What is Cachaça?

Often compared to rum, Cachaça is a sugarcane based spirit that shares many similarities with agricole rums. However, to call it a rum is a bit of a misconception, as Cachaça is actually thought to predate Caribbean rum by a few decades. It came to Brazil with Portuguese colonists in the mid 1500s, when they brought sugar cane cuttings over from Madeira.

Like agricole rum, Cachaça is distilled from fermented sugarcane juice which gives it a grassier, more vegetal flavour than rums made from molasses. Over the centuries it has adopted over two thousand names in the local dialect including caninha and pinga.

Styles of Cachaça

There are two main styles. The unaged white/silver Cachaça which tends to be bottled immediately and sold cheaper. Although, some producers will age it in wood for up to 12 months to make it smoother. Then there is aged yellow/gold Cachaça, the more premium style. It is meant to be drunk neat and aged for up to 3 years, with the very best going for up to 15 years.

The use of wood is where Cachaça really stands out in the spirits world. Yes, Scotch and rum, even gins, are aged in wood, but generally just oak. Cachaça is aged in indigenous Brazilian wood that you don't find anywhere else. Amburana imparts a distinct heavy spice, whilst Para can give a nutty, fruity character. They also use Zebrawood, Cabreuva, Balm, and many more.