Production and Commercialization of Aguardiente in the Region of Concepción, XVII-XIX Centuries

This article uses unpublished colonial records from the Chilean National Archive to study the origin and proliferation of aguardiente in the frontier region of Concepción. Its importance and production cycle are analyzed through individual 18th century vineyard production records and related civil and criminal court cases. The overall production for the corregimiento of Puchacay was studied by comparing individual production records for the years 1777 and 1779. Through this analysis, we hope to show the importance and singularities of locally produced aguardiente in the region of Concepción.