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From the Atacama Desert to the world: Rico Rico continues to put Chile on the map.

From the Atacama Desert to the world: Rico Rico solidifies its international presence with victories in London and New York. What began a few years ago as a small artisanal project in San Pedro de Atacama is now establishing itself among the world’s most prominent premium spirits. The Licores Don Mateo distillery, located in the town of Checar Bajo, has just achieved two of the most significant milestones in its history. First, it won a gold medal and 95 points at the London Spirits Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions. A few days later, the brand was selected to participate in the Accelerator Pitch at Bar Convent Brooklyn in New York, where it was chosen as one of the most promising emerging brands to enter the U.S. market. The star of both achievements is Rico Rico, a liqueur made from rica-rica (Acantholippia deserticola), a medicinal plant used for generations by the Lickan Antai communities and considered one of the botanical symbols of the driest desert on the planet. For its founders, Matthieu Massei and Karin Ossandón, both recognitions represent much more than just international awards. “It shows us that there is interest in a liqueur deeply connected to its territory and that the desert can also compete in the world’s most sophisticated markets,” says Matthieu Massei. A recipe inspired by the Alps and adapted to the desert. The story began in 2020, when Massei, originally from France, decided to adapt the traditional recipe for the Alpine liqueur Génépi, using rica-rica as the main ingredient. The result was a completely different product, capable of expressing the identity of the Atacama highlands through an artisanal production process that involves prolonged maceration, high-purity grain alcohol, and a sustainable harvesting protocol developed in collaboration with researchers, respecting the plant’s natural regeneration. Depending on the harvesting area and weather conditions, rica-rica contributes notes ranging from citrus aromas to more herbal and woody profiles. For Karin Ossandón, the project also aims to preserve cultural heritage. “We’re not just a product. We’re also giving value and recognition to the people who have preserved this agricultural tradition for decades.” London: a historic recognition. The London Spirits Competition awarded Rico Rico 95 points and a gold medal—one of the highest scores ever achieved by a Latin American liqueur in its category. The jury particularly praised the product’s originality, technical quality, and regional identity, demonstrating that a spirit produced in the heart of the Atacama Desert can compete at the highest international level. New York opens the doors to the United States. The recognition earned in London subsequently led to Licores Don Mateo’s participation in Bar Convent Brooklyn, North America’s most important spirits trade show. Thanks to Corfo’s Semilla Expande program, the company was able to present Rico Rico to international importers, distributors, and specialists, and was selected for the Accelerator Pitch—a platform reserved for emerging brands with the greatest growth potential. The experience confirmed the commercial interest of the U.S. market. “For us, it was confirmation that there is room for a liqueur like Rico Rico within the U.S. premium segment,” explains Massei. Growth with identity. Currently, Licores Don Mateo sells its products in hotels, restaurants, liquor stores, and supermarkets in northern Chile and Santiago. At the same time, it is working to launch its first exports to the United States while continuing to develop new products based on native desert species. The project maintains strong ties to traditional Lickan Antai agriculture, seeking to add value to local resources through sustainable processes and small-scale production. With these two international accolades, Rico Rico demonstrates that innovation can emerge from the most extreme environments and that the identity of the Atacama Desert has the potential to become a benchmark within the global spirits industry.