Rum is an important spirit in Colombia; aged rums range from three years maturation to almost ten; a number of these aged rums are value priced. The lighter, non-aged rums are made for mixing with fruit juice in cocktails.

The most important spirit in Colombia, however is aguardiente. This is a clear spirit distilled from sugar cane molasses and anise seed; it is similar in many ways to grappa from Italy. It is served in small shot glasses after dinner or sometimes used as the base for an aguardiente sour, which is mixed with orange and lime juice.