{"id":28456,"date":"2014-01-10T10:16:33","date_gmt":"2014-01-10T10:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.fuertehoteles.com\/?p=28456"},"modified":"2015-02-18T13:08:16","modified_gmt":"2015-02-18T12:08:16","slug":"ojen-anis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.fuertehoteles.com\/en\/culture\/ojen-anis\/","title":{"rendered":"Native Products Of Malaga: The Secret of Ojen Anis That Its Founder Took To His Grave"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travelling is not just about visiting a location, but about getting to know a place. Gastronomy and local products are fundamental components of an area\u2019s culture we should see when we visit. So, today I want to present the origin of a \u201cglass of Ojen\u201d<\/b>, an anis prepared in the wonderful mountain village perched just over Marbella and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n

It was 1830 when Pedro Morales<\/b> first distilled his famous drink: The Ojen Anis. This \u201caguardiente<\/b>\u201d (as it is known in this area) was known not only in Spain, but across the globe. In fact, a \u201cglass of Ojen<\/b>\u201d is a commonly known phrase.<\/p>\n

After making his fortune outside of town, the spirit\u2019s creator, Pedro Morales, came back and decided to create the best anis possible, coming up with his own delicious formula.<\/b> This recipe began with the best wine from muscat grapes, picked from the vineyards that surrounded Ojen and ironically added an herb known as \u201caniseed\u201d.<\/p>\n

Oj\u00e9n anis<\/b> became so well known that there were many artists who even mentioned it in their works. Such is the case of novelist Camilo Jos\u00e9 Cela, a Nobel laureate<\/b>, who repeatedly mentions in his book The Hive.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Other historical figures, like Anita Delgado Briones, <\/b>Maharani of Apurtala, a Malaga artist married to an Indian prince in Paris, used to order a glass of Oj\u00e9n.<\/p>\n

Even Picasso<\/b>, in his cubist period, immortalised a brandy bottle with the legend “Ojen” in his “Spanish Still Life”,<\/b> from 1912, now in the Museum of Modern Art Dascq. Villeneuve Daix France.<\/p>\n

\"Aguardiente<\/a><\/p>\n

A Secret, Forever <\/b><\/h2>\n

However, unfortunately, a disease called phylloxera afflicted the grape vines used to produce this special spirit, making it virtually disappear. The spirit\u2019s creator, jealous of this exact formula kept it safely guarded away.<\/b> And while his descendants claim to possess the secret formula, the truth is, it\u2019s unlikely the could ever reproduce that truly special flavour.<\/p>\n

In Ojen<\/b>, several bottles have been safely stored away in a small museum in the remains of the old distillery. We recommend a visit and if you\u2019re lucky, you might be able to savour a taste of this precious liquor. Its worth a shot to try your luck! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n