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12 Worst Rated Portuguese Alcoholic Beverages

Last update: Mon Dec 16 2024
12 Worst Rated Portuguese Alcoholic Beverages
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01
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MAIN INGREDIENTS

Aguardente bagaceira is a clear and colorless Portuguese spirit distilled from grape pomace—the skins and pulps left as a by-product of winemaking. It is made by winemakers, but it is mostly produced in rural areas as a type of rustic drink that is not intended for commercial production.


Aguardente bagaceira can vary in quality, depending on the distillation and the base ingredient. The best examples should be powerful but with a smooth, warming finish and a fruity grape aroma. The distillate is sometimes aged to produce a softer, mellower style known as bagaceira velha
02

Alcoholic Mixed Drink

MADEIRA, Portugal
3.4
Nikita
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Nikita is an ice cream cocktail that hails from Madeira. It is made with a combination of ice cream, fresh pineapple, pineapple juice, and typically beer or white wine. Most versions opt for either beer or wine, but some mix both. This cocktail can be made in a blender—this will ensure creamier texture—by simply adding all the ingredients and blending until smooth.


Another option is to put all the ingredients in a large container and use a mexelote—a wooden muddler used to make the popular poncha cocktail—to muddle and mix all the elements until the drink is smooth and creamy. The drink is poured into glasses and comes garnished with a pineapple slice. 
03

Fruit Brandy

ALGARVE, Portugal
3.5
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This Portuguese fruit brandy is distilled from fermented medronho berries that grow wild throughout the Algarve region. The production of medronho has not been completely regulated, and though many distilleries have been licensed, some producers still operate illegally.


The drink is typically clear and strong and is mainly enjoyed neat, preferably as a digestif. Until recently, it was mainly found at the local taverns in Algarve, but the producers and the government have made an effort to turn medronho into an exquisite Portuguese product.

04

Wine Appellation

COIMBRA DISTRICT, Portugal
3.6
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Bairrada is a small and narrow Portuguese appellation situated along the Atlantic Ocean. The region is best known for varietal red wines made from the local Baga grape. This high-yield grape usually produces powerful reds that age well and are typically high in tannins and acidity.


Although Baga is the undisputed king of the region, other Portuguese grapes (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz) and some international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir) are planted and mostly used in blends. Apart from the flagship red wines, Bairrada also includes small amounts of bottle-fermented sparkling wines and fresh, mineral whites usually made from Fernão Pires, Bical, and Arinto. 
05

Wine Variety

BRAGA DISTRICT, Portugal
3.6
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Loureiro is a white grape variety mainly cultivated in Portugal. It is one of the most common grapes used in the production of the legendary Portuguese Vinho Verde. Some amount is also found in Spanish Galicia, where it is known as Loureira.


Although the grape is primarily used in Vinho Verde blends, there are some varietal examples. Loureiro wines are fresh, aromatic, low in alcohol, and high in acidity. The aromas are usually citrusy and floral, often reminiscent of lime, orange blossom, acacia, peach, and apples. 
06

Fortified Wine

VILA REAL DISTRICT, Portugal
3.6
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Late Bottled Vintage port is produced from a single year, and it is bottled after four to six years of age. Due to the slightly longer aging period, this style is more affordable than Vintage port, and it can be enjoyed immediately after it is released, though it can also be suitable for bottle aging.


Traditional styles are not filtered and tend to have more structure than brighter contemporary versions that are filtered before bottling. Although some purists argue that filtration strips away some of the essential features, this filtered LBV is the most common example. 
07

Herbal Liqueur

LOUSÃ, Portugal
3.7
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Beirão is a Portuguese herbal liqueur that was first produced in the 19th century. Although the recipe is held secret, the drink is made by macerating twelve different botanicals. According to a widespread story, the history of the liqueur dates back to the 19th century when a Port salesman passing through Lousã fell in love with a daughter of a pharmacist.


They stayed in Lousã and started creating and selling various health remedies, including a liqueur for stomach pain which would in 1929 become the Beirão liqueur. In 1940, the company that produced the drink was bought by José Carranca Redondo who had great success into promoting Beirão into one of the most popular Portuguese liqueurs. 
08

Cocktail

MADEIRA, Portugal
3.7
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Poncha is a traditional cocktail from Madeira consisting of sugar cane spirit (aguardente de cana), fresh citrus juice, and honey. The drink is traditionally made with lemons, though modern variations often opt for oranges, tangerines, or other fruit.


Poncha is made by mixing lemon juice and honey and then adding aguardente. Optionally, citrus fruit can be muddled with honey, and the drink is then topped with sugar cane spirit and citrus juice. The ingredients are traditionally mixed with a wooden muddler called caralhinho or mexelote
09

Wine Variety

VISEU DISTRICT, Portugal and  one more region
3.7
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Mencía or Jaen is a grape whose origin is associated with the Iberian peninsula. In the past, it was believed that Mencía and Jaen are two separate varieties, but recent research has shown that they are genetically identical.


In Spain, the grape is mostly associated with the Bierzo appellation that is located in the province of León. While for most of its history, Mencía was used in the production of light, somewhat bland table wines, some winemakers have seen the potential to produce more concentrated and better quality varietals with a medium body and good natural acidity. 
10

Wine Variety

VILA REAL DISTRICT, Portugal
3.8
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Touriga Franca, also known as Touriga Francesa, is one of the most planted grape varieties in Portugal. It is used in the production of varietal wines, but it is mostly known as one of the quintessential grapes in red Douro blends and Port wines.


Although it is often cited as less prestigious than Touriga Nacional, this dark-skinned grape is able to produce dense wines with fruity and floral aromas that are reminiscent of red and dark berries and roses. The grape is native to Portugal, and though not much is known about its origin, it is believed that it is a cross between Touriga Nacional and another, unknown grape. 
11
Wine Variety
SETÚBAL DISTRICT, Portugal
3.8
12
Wine Variety
BUCELAS, Portugal
3.9

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “12 Worst Rated Portuguese Alcoholic Beverages” list until December 16, 2024, 1,318 ratings were recorded, of which 905 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Portuguese Alcoholic Beverages