Fifty years after it was founded in Silves, Bagamel is celebrating its rich heritage of producing traditional Algarve spirits and liqueurs, while looking confidently to the future under the leadership of Vanessa Pereira, who has been bringing fresh energy and ideas to the business since taking ownership in 2024.
The company celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 26, welcoming guests to its premises in Silves for an afternoon of conviviality, tastings and shared memories.
The Resident attended the celebration, which brought together friends, family and supporters of the brand in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Guests gathered around wooden tables, enjoying local delicacies and drinks while discovering the company’s newly created tasting room.
For Vanessa, the anniversary was particularly meaningful. Having taken on the challenge of preserving a business deeply rooted in the region’s identity, she is determined to ensure its traditions continue to thrive while introducing new ideas and opportunities.
Her ambition is to build a creative brand with a strong identity, meaningful values and distinctive products, without losing the authenticity that has defined Bagamel for half a century.
A legacy worth preserving
Founded on November 15, 1976, by José Varela, a producer from Silves with a passion for medronho, Bagamel – Sociedade Industrial de Bebidas Regionais do Algarve – became closely associated with the region’s traditional spirits.
Its best-known products include Castelo de Silves medronho brandy, made from the fruit of the strawberry tree, alongside fig brandy, honey-based drinks and a selection of regional liqueurs.
When Vanessa took ownership, she recognised the responsibility of protecting this heritage.
Originally from Lisbon but a resident of the Algarve for 37 years, she has a strong emotional connection to the region, its people and the stories behind its traditional products.
Her professional background in management and sales has helped shape her vision for the company, but it is her enthusiasm for the Algarve’s cultural identity that drives the project.
As she explained in an earlier interview with Inside Algarve, she wants every bottle to represent a journey into the heart of the region, combining tradition, quality and creativity.
A welcoming space to discover Algarve flavours
One of the highlights of the anniversary celebrations was the opportunity to discover Bagamel’s new tasting room, created as part of the company’s plans to open its doors to visitors.
The spacious, light-filled room combines contemporary simplicity with traditional distilling equipment, creating an inviting setting that reflects the company’s past and present.
Large wooden communal tables and benches encourage visitors to sit together, while oak barrels serve as informal tables alongside rustic stools. Impressive copper stills, once central to traditional spirit production, provide a striking reminder of the craftsmanship behind the drinks.
Shelves displaying Bagamel’s bottles complete the setting, turning the room into a showcase of regional flavours and local heritage.
More than simply somewhere to sample drinks, the space has been designed to offer visitors an introduction to the company’s history, production methods and the equipment used over the decades.
For Vanessa, opening the distillery to the public represents another way of bringing people closer to the Algarve’s traditions while creating a new experience for those visiting Silves.
Tradition meets innovation
While medronho remains central to Bagamel’s identity, its range has expanded to include Phigus fig brandy, Dom Chique Melosa, Amendoeirinha and liqueurs made with ingredients such as carob, pennyroyal, orange, lemon and passion fruit.
Innovation has also led to the launch of Bonanza Spicy, a distinctive gin combining citrus and spices with a bold, spicy character inspired by Vanessa’s love of piri-piri.
Developed through several trials alongside a food engineer, the gin reflects her determination to explore new flavours while maintaining a connection to the Algarve.
The new gin was warmly received by guests at the anniversary celebration, with positive feedback on its distinctive flavour and spicy character, which could make it particularly appealing during the colder winter months.
Yet the company’s future is not simply about introducing new products. Vanessa also wants to strengthen relationships with regional producers, expand Bagamel’s presence in Portugal and abroad, and encourage visitors to discover the traditions behind each bottle.
Looking towards the next 50 years
The anniversary celebration offered a glimpse of the direction in which Bagamel is heading: a business proud of its history but increasingly open to new experiences and audiences.
As guests chatted, raised their glasses and enjoyed the convivial atmosphere, the occasion was as much a celebration of the people and traditions behind the company as it was of its products.
Half a century after José Varela established Bagamel, Vanessa is determined to carry that legacy forward with the same dedication to quality and regional identity.
The bottles and labels may have changed over the years, but the connection to the Algarve remains at the heart of the business.
And with its new tasting room welcoming visitors, Bagamel is inviting a new generation to discover the flavours, stories and traditions that have shaped its first 50 years.
For more information, visit www.bagamel.pt
