Cachaca - Not Just For Peasants Anymore

The first time someone mentioned Cachaca to us, we wanted to say "Gesundheit." It turns out they weren't sneezing, however - they were telling us about a rum-like Brazilian spirit that's starting to appear in bars and liquor stores all over the country. Who knew?

Cachaca (kah-SHAH-sah) is a colorless liquor made from sugar cane juice. Regulators in the United States would call it a rum, which is defined here as any spirit distilled to less than 95 percent alcohol made from molasses, sugar cane juice or sugar cane syrup.

In fact, the drink we consider rum is made from molasses and has a higher proof than cachaca, says Ed Hamilton, an importer, author and proprietor of the Ministry of Rum Web site (www.ministryofrum.com).

Cachaca traditionally "has been considered a cheap peasants' drink," Hamilton said by phone last week, several days after the International Cane Spirits Festival Tasting Competition in Tampa. "A lot of it isn't wonderful."

courier-journal.com: Can You Say Cachaca?

Sounds like South American moonshine to us, and after a ringing endorsement like that, of course we ran out and got ourselves a bottle - the review will be posted soon. If you end up with a bottle of the stuff, you should know it's not traditionally drunk straight - it's usually used to make the caipirinha (kye-pee-REEN-yah), where it's mixed with a pantload of sugar and fresh lime juice to make a drink somewhat similar to a Mojito without mint. You can check out a typical recipe at Maria Brazil, and if you don't have any cachaca on hand, go ahead and make one with rum or vodka.

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Comments

I was in the city of Cusco in Peru in 2002 at a small restaurant when the hottest bartender ever (Brazilian of course) told me she would make me the best caipirinha I'd ever had. I told her I'd never had one, at which point she scurried off.
She came back with the best caipirinha I've ever had...and I've had a lot since then.

You guys need to talk about Pisco, the Peruvian liquor - it will be big here someday too!

Posted by: Kevin Erskine at April 10, 2006 9:56 AM

I have had the best and worst experiences with Cachaca. If it is made right, it is delicious. My problem started in a little fishing village in Santa Catarina. The gave us the good stuff, plenty of fresh lime and sugar, once we were good and toasted they started giving us the cheap stuff. I don't know what happened, but I cannot remember about six hours, when I woke up in the morning the shower door was broken and I had a pail next to my bed. Moral of the story, don't be stingy and spend the extra $$$!

Posted by: Monsoon at April 10, 2006 11:50 AM

Hey guys, I just tried this new kind of cachaça called "Leblon." It's much smoother than the other ones, and makes an awesome caipirinha!

Posted by: Caipirinha Lover at April 17, 2006 9:48 AM

The best I've tried lighlty, is Mae De Ouro. Good enough to drink neat, but I usually use it for Caipirinhas. Much smoother and tastier than Leblon.

Posted by: Brazil Lover at April 22, 2006 9:15 AM

There is a new one which has just come to the US which says it is the highest quality production of all of them. I believe its more of a small production reserve type product. Its called MATRAGA. Its currently working its way through Miami and its much better and cheaper, at $15/bottle, than most of the others.
By the way, cheaper Cachaca is made in an industrial setting and is known to have traces of methanol in it.

Posted by: Chris at May 6, 2006 9:12 AM

LEBLON is by far the best Cachaça out there. Blows everything else away. really smooth and great taste.

Posted by: jrsafca at May 14, 2006 7:37 PM

The Seabreeze, made with Leblon Cachaca, is the best cocktail I have ever tasted!!!

Posted by: Kelly at May 31, 2006 12:02 AM

Hi everyone,

My name is Dave Catania and Cachaca Mae De Ouro is my brand. We selected Mae De Ouro after tasting over 80 different cachacas over many months in Brazil and it took us almost 3 years to bring it to the USA. If anyone reading this has any questions about cachaca and how it is made they are welcome to e-mail me at dcatania@caipirinha.us and I will post both Q&A to this forum. To "Brazil Lover" thanks for the compliments, we have done our best to create an exceptional product with traditional methods. To the other folks that think Leblon is the bomb, I invite you to try Mae De Ouro. To LiquorSnob.com - can I send you a bottle to review?

-Dave Catania AKA Cachaca Dave
Cachaca Mae De Ouro
www.caipirinha.us

Posted by: Cachaca_Dave at June 23, 2006 12:16 PM

I am a big fan of all things Brazilian, but cachaca was a big exception. This all changed when an American friend introduced me to Leblon Cachaca in NYC. I suggest that you try the pineaple caipirinha with Leblon at Kittichai, it is the best cocktail ever!
Cheers,
SS

Posted by: Steve Schweitzer at July 12, 2006 7:18 PM

Leblon is by far the best Cachaca in San Diego!

Posted by: stefanie at July 24, 2006 2:57 AM

I would like to take this opportunity and introduce to you Rio Joe’s Silver Cachaça (www.RioJoes.com). Rio Joe's Silver Cachaça is a premium cachaça produced from the finest sugar canes in accordance with old-world craftsmanship and tradition. Our silver cachaça is double distilled from naturally fermented mash to reach its desired smoothness.

Please see our website for delicious and sexy recipes and Live the Life.

Posted by: Stepan Baghdassarian at October 15, 2006 11:02 AM

If you want to know who makes the truly finest Cachaca read this article The Brazilian Spirit
by Alejandro Gedeon that was written from a documentary he filmed over 3 years of traveling and sampling cachaca in Brazil...I own it, it is a truly great history of Cachaca

http://soulbrasil.com/index.php?page=mn2/culture/index.php&ms_lang=en&lang=

Havanah is the best Cachaca made in the world, but Alenjandro recommends Boca Loca as a substitute at the end of his article:

Name: Cachaça.
Nickname: Pinga, caninha, immaculada and 100 more.
Nationality: Brazilian
Production: 1.5 billion liters per year.
Consumption: 3rd distilled drink most consumed in the world.
Most expensive cachaça: Havana $100 dollars
Most Popular: Pitu and Caninha 51
Great Alternatives: Autentica and Boca Loca
Boca Loca at: www.myspace.com/118593621

Posted by: Carl Hays at November 6, 2006 4:13 PM