The HiStory
In 1882, in the heart of Lisbon, the German master distiller Leopoldo Wagner founded Fábrica Âncora, a distillery that would soon become a national treasure. Known for its refined absinthe and citrus liqueurs, Âncora earned the distinction of exclusively supplying the Portuguese royal house and reached international acclaim at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889—the same world fair that unveiled the Eiffel Tower as a symbol of modern progress. There, Âncora was awarded gold medals, sealing its reputation as one of the finest distilleries of its time.
For nearly a century, Fábrica Âncora embodied the elegance and ambition of old Lisbon. But by the 1980s, it had vanished—undone by shifting regulations and the absence of a successor, quietly fading from the city’s landscape and memory. That changed when Konstantin — another German who had fallen in love with Lisbon just like the original founder —stumbled upon two exquisitely preserved bottles at Lisbon’s Feira da Ladra: an orange liqueur and an absinthe, both bearing the Fábrica Âncora name. Struck by their craftsmanship and the reverence still expressed by locals, he set out to uncover the story behind them. His search led him through antique shops, libraries, and archives, piecing together the distillery’s forgotten legacy. In time, he recovered not only its history, but also the original trademark.
Today, the legacy of Fábrica Âncora is being reawakened—not as a replica of the past, but as a contemporary expression of Lisbon’s forgotten heritage. Reimagined as the city’s first craft distillery, it speaks to those with a deep appreciation for place, provenance, and the art of fine distillation. It is a tribute both to the city’s cultural richness and to a new generation of discerning spirits connoisseurs.
The Vision
Our vision is to reestablish Fábrica Âncora as a landmark of Lisbon’s cultural and artisanal renaissance. More than a distillery, it will be a living homage to the city’s forgotten legacy—a place where heritage meets innovation, and where the elegance of old-world spirits is reborn through contemporary craft.
We aim to create Lisbon’s first urban craft distillery, producing small-batch, premium spirits based on traditional recipes, local botanicals, and the highest standards of sustainability. Attached to the distillery, a bar will offer immersive experiences—tastings, events, and a direct connection between product, story, and maker.
In doing so, Fábrica Âncora will not only revive a historical name, but help shape a new identity for Lisbon: a destination for sophisticated, authentic, and locally grounded craftsmanship. A place where the past is not only remembered, but distilled—bottle by bottle—for a new generation.
