How did it all start?

Roberto Taverne has always been a lover of nature and especially the sea. He started off doing windsurf, but then he embarked on bigger ships and longer trips. He participated in long races and every time he passed through Chiloé he was captivated by the charm and magic of the place. Colors, smells, landscapes that are not found anywhere in the world … And here’s where the magic comes: one of his partners, Reynolds Henderson, invited him to participate in the administration of San Pedro Island, in the south of the Isla Grande and in a project as challenging as it is marvelous: the adequacy of a lodge in the highest part of the island. Without hesitation, Roberto accepted the challenge and settled in Quellón.

As the project progressed, and always seeking to find out how to boost the raw materials of Chiloé, 3 years ago, the unique and innovative idea of ​​using the Chilote potato as the basis for the only vodka made from potatoes in Chile and South America emerged.

The process was long. With a small borrowed alembic, he began the first tests. He quickly realized there was something. The quality of the potatoes, the mixture of the varieties, the flavor of the spring water, did their thing. He improved the distillation technique and bought a new still. Sirena de Chiloé was born.

The leap came with the advice of winemaker Heinrich Männle and with the incorporation of a vital piece in our vodka: the still that today distils one of the best vodkas in the world.

Roberto tells the story: “I searched around the world, China, Brazil, Spain, but I went to the root, to those who perfected it, and those were the germans. This alembic is made of copper and was molded by hand by an artisan, a technique that disappeared due to its high cost. It is very old and its former owner in Germany sold it to us with the only condition that we used it to produce alcohol and not like an ornament. Some time ago I sent him a photo of a bottle of Sirena de Chiloé, he was very happy and proud. “

Today, Sirena de Chiloé has reached a point of perfect balance in the processes and ingredients to create a unique and world-renowned vodka with the best awards.

New projects

“Chiloé is a rough diamond, says Roberto Taverne. There is a lot to do here and this does not stop with vodka. I will continue innovating and I will continue doing waves for a long time. We do not sell a vodka, we sell a shared experience, an island, a belonging to something bigger. We make all chilotes and chileans part of a premium vodka, and we put Chiloé and their potatoes in the world with a product that is awarded worldwide”, he concludes proudly.

Sirena de Chiloé is soon to launch news and the San Pedro Island Lodge is in the finishing stages. Everything will be ready to welcome the travelers, who like Roberto, looked at this beautiful island before entering the Pacific Ocean.