Our History
Since 1890.
Tío Cerol
Pedro Barceló Seguí, also known as Tio Cerol, started producing Café Licor Barceló.
White coffee liqueur is born
White Café Licor was created in the cellars of Calle la “Mâu” (Mare de Déu d’Agost) in Alcoy. Its transparent colour helped dignify a drink that had been persecuted and frowned upon, elevating it to the category of “white” spirits and managing to mislead the observer: although it no longer showed its dark appearance, it retained all the flavour and properties of Café Licor.
It has been produced in Alcoy at different times for more than a century. Among other coffee liqueur makers, it has been crafted by Enrique Ferrer Gomis, Ismael Clemente, Licores Conca, Destilerías Serpis and Licores Sinc.
Cerol
After several family generations, Café Licor Barceló became known as Café Licor Cerol.
Founding of Barceló, Bonet & Co.: Legacy and Entrepreneurship in the World of Liqueurs
The company Barceló, Bonet & Co. was founded by Joaquín Bonet, Luis Alemany and Juan Santacreu, continuing the project started in the early 1950s by the renowned coffee liqueur maker Gonzalo Barceló Espí, from the “Cerol” family line, and the entrepreneur Joaquín Bonet Barrachina. This company would later give rise to Licores Sinc.
Production and Quality Improvement
In 1975, the company improved its production capacity and quality standards with the incorporation of a chemical technician, an analysis laboratory, a washing line, a bottling plant and, above all, hygienic and sanitary conditions of the highest standard throughout all company facilities.
The Most Important Distillery in the Valencian Community
Several companies merged under the corporate name Licores Sinc, bringing together almost all the coffee liqueur makers and liqueur producers from Alcoy — Cerol, Sou, Olcina, Conca and Escoda — as well as producers from Cocentaina, Muro, Benilloba and Elda, including Sancho, Cerdá, Jordá, Gadea, Reig and Romero. As a result, Licores Sinc became the leading distillery in the Valencian Community.
25th Anniversary and 1.5 Million Litres Distributed
Licores Sinc celebrated its 25th anniversary. The company exceeded one and a half million litres distributed across its wide range of products, including Cerol, Sancho, Olcina and Plis-play Coffee Aperitifs, Gilkon’s Gin, Anís Serpis and Prestigio, Chordy and Wamba Brandy, Cantueso Serpis, Anís de Hierbas Sinc, Licor Caliblan and other highly popular and in-demand liqueurs such as Manzanita and Biri-Biri.
The company continued its unstoppable progress with the creation of an extensive range of new products.
By the 1990s, Licores Sinc was experiencing steady growth and continued its unstoppable progress with the production of an extensive range of new products. The company launched around twenty highly innovative liqueurs with all kinds of fruit flavours, including melon, cherry, pear, apple, loquat and blackberry, among others.
These products featured a modern, attractive and elegant presentation, worthy of one of the finest distilleries in the country. This range played a key role in making possible the expansion that the company experienced throughout the 1990s.
During this period, a second packaging line was also introduced. In addition, the Regulatory Council for Designations of Origin of the Province of Alicante was created at that time, with the aim of protecting the production of traditional beverages from the province of Alicante. Licores Sinc chaired this council for many years.
Licores Sinc Takes Part in Alimentaria
Licores Sinc took part for the first time in the Alimentaria trade fair in Barcelona, one of the leading events in the sector in Europe. In addition to introducing its new fruit liqueurs, the company presented its full range of coffee products: Café Licor, Caliblan — white Café Licor — Coffee Cream and Coffee Beans for the hospitality sector.
Decaffeinated Cerol
Licores Sinc launched its latest innovation: decaffeinated coffee aperitif, designed for consumers who wish to avoid the stimulating effects of caffeine.
Licores Sinc Receives the Alicante Chamber of Commerce Award
As a result of this commercial momentum and entrepreneurial spirit, Licores Sinc received the Alicante Chamber of Commerce Award in 1999, in recognition of its contribution to the industry of Alicante and the Valencian Community as a whole.
The award was presented at Benidorm Palace during the Night of the Alicante Economy by Marcela Miró, President of the Valencian Parliament, in the Industry Award category, with the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Eduardo Zaplana, also in attendance.
During this period, two special editions of Cerol and Sancho Coffee Aperitif were launched under the name Mileni, created to mark the turn of the century.
Cerol Gourmet
Inspired by these special editions, an innovative idea emerged, and Licores Sinc launched a high-end, superior-quality Coffee Aperitif called “Gourmet”. Endorsed by Cerol, it was created for drinkers passionate about traditional Café Licor and for true coffee liqueur connoisseurs.
Expansion of Licores Sinc
In October 2005, Licores Sinc carried out a significant expansion of its facilities located in the Cotes Baixes Industrial Estate in Alcoy. This expansion allowed the company to reach a total surface area of 12,000 square metres, marking an important milestone in its growth.
The expansion not only involved increasing the physical space, but also included a restructuring of the existing premises. This included improvements to the distribution warehouse and the production plant.
Gin EVER, the First Premium London Dry Gin Produced in the Valencian Community
In a significant step towards innovation and excellence in the production of spirits, Licores Sinc began crafting premium gin with the launch of Gin EVER. This product stands out as the first Premium London Dry Gin crafted in the Valencian Community, marking a milestone in the local industry.
Gin EVER was created to meet the growing demand from consumers seeking high-quality products with exceptional flavour.
50th Anniversary and Launch of the Online Store
Licores Sinc celebrated an important milestone in its history: its 50th anniversary. This half-century journey was proudly commemorated, highlighting not only the company’s commitment to quality and tradition in liqueur production, but also its ability to adapt to market trends.
That same year, Licores Sinc launched its online store, an initiative that allowed customers to easily access its wide range of products from home. This new platform not only represented a step forward in the company’s commercial operations, but also reflected its commitment to offering consumers a modern and accessible shopping experience.
125th Anniversary of Cerol and Launch of a New Image as a Tribute
In 2024, the Cerol brand commemorated the 125th anniversary of the company’s origins, a milestone celebrating more than a century of tradition, quality and dedication.
To mark this special occasion, Cerol introduced a new label design under the concept of “tribute”, paying homage to its roots and to the heritage it has built over the years.
This redesign aimed not only to attract new consumers, but also to create an emotional connection with those who have remained loyal to the brand over the decades. By celebrating this important anniversary, Cerol reaffirmed its commitment to excellence and its desire to continue innovating.
Licores Sinc Returns to Alimentaria
The Alimentaria trade fair in Barcelona is an international benchmark for the retail and Horeca sectors. In 2016, Licores Sinc took part in this international business hub, where industry professionals came together to explore internationalisation, innovation and the latest trends.
At the fair, Licores Sinc showcased a selection of products that were achieving strong sales success.
Que Chido Is Born, a Strawberry Cream Liqueur with Agave
Licores Sinc innovated from the original agave-based drink to create a product that is perfect to enjoy on its own: a Strawberry Cream Liqueur with Agave, one of the first of its kind to be produced in the Valencian Community.
This cream liqueur follows a traditional production method. Strawberry liqueur is widely known around the world and is often combined with tequila. In this case, agave is added to give it a more intense flavour.
Que Chido Strawberry with Agave is made through the fermentation and distillation of juice extracted from the agave plant, ensuring exceptional quality in every sip.
Incorporation of a New Still
Licores Sinc expanded its machinery fleet with the acquisition of a new, higher-capacity still. This investment represented a significant step towards improving its production processes, allowing the company to increase both the efficiency and quality of its creations.
With this expansion, Licores Sinc continued to uphold its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the production of its liqueurs.
Complete Renovation of the Packaging Room and Line
Licores Sinc renovated its packaging room and packaging line. This renewal not only improved the efficiency of its processes, but also ensured that every bottle leaving its plant met the highest standards.
The new packaging room and line were designed to optimise workflow, allowing the company to increase production and reduce waiting times. In addition, new machinery was incorporated to ensure more precise and safer packaging.
With this renovation, Licores Sinc continued to uphold its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the production of its liqueurs.
Licores Sinc Is Awarded by the Alcoy Cámara de Comercio
Licores Sinc received the Alcoy Cámara de Comercio Award, in recognition of its excellence and contribution to the economic development of the city.
Sustainability: Installation of a Solar Self-Consumption System
Licores Sinc took a significant step towards sustainability by installing a solar self-consumption system at its facilities. This project reflects the company’s commitment to the environment and social responsibility, aligning it with global trends aimed at reducing the impact of climate change.
The installation of the solar system not only reduces the company’s carbon footprint, but also enables it to generate clean, renewable energy to power its daily operations. With this advance, it is estimated that approximately 30% of its energy consumption will be covered by this sustainable source.
