ZACH JOHNSTON | 09.13.17
Cachaça is very fun to say out loud. Kay-Cha-SA! It’s also very fun to drink. Generally, people outside of Brazil know of cachaça thanks to long summer nights spent drinking it in the lime and sugar concoction known as the Caipirinha. That cocktail has a great acidic base, mixed with a hefty dose of sugar that works wonders with the warming sugary alcohol. But cachaça is more than just one cocktail — so let’s take a quick look at what makes the spirit so unique.
Cachaça is technically a variety of rum. The style dates back to 1532 and a bit of Portuguese colonizing, alongside a need to get tipsy while rampaging across the New World. Ever since those early days, it has been made from sugar cane juice that’s fermented then distilled. Standard rums tend to be made with molasses (a byproduct of processing sugar cane into sugar). However, there’s a bit of ambiguity as to what makes rum, well, rum. Rum can be any distillate that’s made with a sugar base. So sugar beets qualify in some cases. It’s murky.
Cachaça’s closest relative in the world of spirits is Rhum Agricole. Both are made from sugar cane juice. The difference being Rhum Agricole is made in the Caribbean and cachaça is made in Brazil. And that’s really it. Otherwise, they’re pretty much the same product.
Where cachaça gets interesting — and how it can stands above Rhum Agricole — is the barreling process. Brazil is famous for it’s wide array of unique and rare woods from the Amazon. While white cachaça (branca or prata) generally doesn’t touch wood, it does spend time resting in stainless steel tanks. Much the same as your average white rum will do. Aged cachaça (amarela or ouro) spends time mellowing in barrels of various woods from around the world and around the Amazon. Rare Amazonian woods are almost never used to age any other spirit. So in many cases, when you find a special bottle of cachaça that’s been aged in Zebrawood or Ipê, you’re tasting something wholly unique.
Let’s dive into eight essential bottles of cachaça that’ll give you a head start on getting to know the spirit. We’ve split them up into four white and four aged to add a little variety. Happy cachaça hunting!
Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça
Novo Fogo is picky about their sugar cane. Their organic product is hand selected and only 11 percent of it makes the final cut for fermentation and then pot distilling (the rest is mulched and turned into sugar cane fertilizer). After distillation, the spirit is rested in stainless steel tanks to let the flavors mellow.
Expect a large rush of roasted bananas, light notes of sugar cane, and whiffs of grass and plums in the background. When it comes to cachaça, this is a great place to start your journey.
<blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYkQ6ZpFfWL/” data-instgrm-version=”8″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:8px;”> <div style=” background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;”> <div style=” background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;”></div></div> <p style=” margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYkQ6ZpFfWL/” style=” color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;” target=”_blank”>It's after 10pm in Pleasanton, CA and still almost 90 degrees. You runout of cachaca and your local @bevmo_co or @wholefoods doesn't stock @novofogo! Please send help… 🤦♂️#wemisspnw</a></p> <p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”>A post shared by <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/capturesandcocktails/” style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;” target=”_blank”> captures & cocktails</a> (@capturesandcocktails) on <time style=” font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;” datetime=”2017-09-03T05:10:09+00:00″>Sep 2, 2017 at 10:10pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src=”//www.instagram.com/embed.js”></script><blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYuZyeelkJz/” data-instgrm-version=”8″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:8px;”> <div style=” background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:48.24074074074074% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;”> <div style=” background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;”></div></div> <p style=” margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYuZyeelkJz/” style=” color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;” target=”_blank”>Popped into @poppyseattle to get a taste of @baldnbearded's entry to the @usbgwa cocktail competition. For anyone following along, we have ~30 Washington state participants all vying for a chance to win a trip to Brazil to visit the #novofogo distillery in person. This submission is called "Bebida da Terra." Ingredients are: Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça, blueberry and blackberry shrubs, lemon, and cucumber. . . .#cachaca #cachaça #cocktail #novofogo #usbgwa #usbg #seattle #poppyseattle</a></p> <p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”>A post shared by <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/novofogo/” style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;” target=”_blank”> Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça</a> (@novofogo) on <time style=” font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;” datetime=”2017-09-07T03:40:07+00:00″>Sep 6, 2017 at 8:40pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”></script>
Novo Fogo Cachaça Tanager
Novo Fogo’s aging of Tanager in American oak and arariba (more commonly called zebrawood) gives the spirit a vivid red sheen. The cachaça drinks like a long winter’s day between Thanksgiving and Christmas with cinnamon, star anise, and cloves bouncing from the glass. Underneath all that spice is green grass and a bell pepper garden with echoes of tropical fruit forests. Sip it over an ice cube to let it shine and enjoy that burst of spice and sweet sugar cane delight.
<blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BXTJc8ZFAdT/” data-instgrm-version=”8″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:8px;”> <div style=” background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;”> <div style=” background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;”></div></div> <p style=” margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BXTJc8ZFAdT/” style=” color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;” target=”_blank”>What a pleasure to meet, talk and drink with these two "senhores" da cachaça…. With the team, they're responsible for every drop of "juice" that goes into every #novofogo and #portomorretes #cachaca bottle… Saúde!!</a></p> <p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”>A post shared by <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/lefthand_spirits/” style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;” target=”_blank”> Left Hand</a> (@lefthand_spirits) on <time style=” font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;” datetime=”2017-08-02T17:06:29+00:00″>Aug 2, 2017 at 10:06am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”></script><blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYuMBBuFpuk/” data-instgrm-version=”8″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:8px;”> <div style=” background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;”> <div style=” background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;”></div></div> <p style=” margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BYuMBBuFpuk/” style=” color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;” target=”_blank”>Stop 4 on the @usbgwa competition crawl! Now we are at @sitka.and.spruce to taste @amc8682's drink. This is, "Golllll!" 🥅⚽️. Made with Barrel Aged Novo Fogo Cachaça, Lustau Almacenista Oloroso "Pata de Gallina" sherry, Giffard Creme du Banane, Scrappy's Chocolate bitters, and house-made chocolate whey merengue.</a></p> <p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”>A post shared by <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/novofogo/” style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;” target=”_blank”> Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça</a> (@novofogo) on <time style=” font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;” datetime=”2017-09-07T01:39:46+00:00″>Sep 6, 2017 at 6:39pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”></script>
Check Out These Bottles Of Cachaça To Celebrate National Cachaça Day
UPROXX, September 13, 2017
