Our Story
Narrated by Co-founder Fernando Marin
Back in 2011, my best friend Felipe and I arrived at a party with a cheap bottle of vodka, the label removed. When a friend of ours asked if we had made it ourselves, we played along and said that we had. This innocent joke piqued our curiosity about alcohol production, and we realized that we didn't know anything about it.
At just nineteen years old, we set out to learn everything we could about the process. We struggled to understand the technical language of the few books we had acquired, as English was new to us, and we didn't fully comprehend what we were reading.
But our rebellious spirit refused to give up, and after a few months of failed attempts, we successfully fermented quinoa and distilled it twice. However, we were too afraid to try it, fearing the risks of poisoning.
But the experience opened our eyes to the unique flavors that our ingredients could offer. As we immersed ourselves in the spirits universe, we were drawn to the charm and complexity of whisky. We saw an opportunity to make unique whiskies by drawing from our history and the wisdom of the Andean cultures that know how to work with our geography and natural resources.
Our highlands sit at around 13,000 feet of altitude (4,000 meters) and have peculiar microclimates that offer new opportunities to rethink the architecture and technologies involved in whisky production and aging.
Our terroir gifts us with grains that don't grow anywhere else, and the Amazon rainforest offers varieties of woods such as Amburana that unlock new possibilities to age spirits.
In 2016, we founded Andean Culture Distillery in a small room with a dream to create the Bolivian whisky and share Bolivia with the world. The lack of access to know-how and resources forced us to take the path of learning by doing, and we developed custom alembics, tanks, and barrels. This adventure towards creating Bolivian whisky as young entrepreneurs has been a tumultuous one, but our dream found its way forward. Conceived by two millennials who authentically dived into the world of whisky through the web, we now have an established vision for a new world of whisky.
We currently have different styles of whisky aging, while limited amounts of young spirit set the stage at home. The diverse ingredients, culture, and resources of our country are the hidden treasures that we are uncovering.
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Our Values
Our strategic decisions and actions are guided by the following values and beliefs:
Quality over quantity
“We make fine whisky, at profit if we can, at loss if we must, but always fine whisky” philosophy from Pappy Van Winkle.
We will never compromise the quality of our products in order to improve our profit. Therefore, our quality policy ensures to always deliver high quality customer services and products.
Local Produce
We prioritize working with local suppliers, producers, and developers.
We believe that sourcing resources locally has a positive impact on the local economy and allows us to capture the essence of our country in our products and brand designs.
Culture focus
We believe that focusing on our cultures is essential to innovate from Bolivia
We use the process of "distilling culture" to design, produce, and sell culturally rich products. We blend our ancestral wisdom with modern techniques to share our local identity with the world.
High-impact entrepreneurship
We believe that conscious investment can have a positive impact on economic, social, and environmental issues.
Our project aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including goals #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and #12.
Love, Determination and Skill
We believe that combining love, determination, and skill leads to a masterpiece
This is how we work and how we want to showcase Bolivia to the world.
Mission
We create and promote high-quality, sustainable Bolivian products and experiences that showcase our unique cultural identity to the world. Our focus is on producing Bolivian whiskies that use local ingredients and are developed in collaboration with local artists and designers.
Vision
We will put Bolivia in the world map of whisky through the excellence in our products & experiences. We will also protect the industry by seeking the creation of a denomination of origin for Bolivian whisky.
We will be part of the promotion of our country as an international gastronomic destination. Our company will play an important role in the development of a responsible local market for whisky.
Our Network
In 2018, our company was selected to participate in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), a fellowship program sponsored by the United States Department of State. This program is designed to assist social businesses that prioritize maximizing their impact. As part of the YLAI network, we were able to accelerate our development through courses focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, and business, as well as an exchange program.
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Quality and Innovation Policies
At our company, we prioritize delivering exceptional quality products and experiences to our customers. Our rigorous quality policy ensures that every aspect of our operations, from production to sales, is held to the highest standard. We strive to continually improve and innovate our products and experiences to stay competitive in the market. Our innovation policy is geared towards meeting the evolving needs of our customers, while also maintaining our commitment to sustainability and responsible practices.
To ensure the successful implementation of our quality and innovation policies, we have developed comprehensive manuals that outline our image, management, and innovation standards. These manuals are regularly updated to reflect any changes in our policies and procedures, and all of our employees are trained to adhere to these standards. By prioritizing quality and innovation, we are able to provide our customers with the best possible products and experiences, while also contributing to the long-term success of our business.
Andean Culture Distillery®
The Authentic Underground Spirit
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