Photo by Beth Galton / Styling by Nadine Beauchamp

BY JACKIE SUMMERS | May 23, 2018

Few spirits are as complex and misunderstood as cachaça, the national distillate of Brazil. Made with sugarcane from one of the most bio-diverse places on earth and aged in a multitude of woods, it’s no surprise that artisanal iterations can vary wildly in flavor. While visions of palm trees gently swaying as you sip Caipirinhas are not entirely off base, cachaça lends itself to a wealth of other delightful summer libations. Try these cachaça cocktails to bring a touch of Brazil home…

Photo by Beth Galton / Styling by Nadine Beauchamp

The Mountain Chase is for True Cocktail Nerds

Wine Enthusiast’s Mixologist of the Year, Sother Teague, has proclaimed 2018 the year of cachaça. “It’s all about the terroir,” he says. “You can nerd out on cachaça like you’d nerd out on wine.” This drink, combining cachaça with a variety of bitters and liqueurs, packs a surprising punch hidden in velvety smoothness.

Ingredients
  • 1½ ounces cachaça, preferably Novo Fogo Silver
  • ¾ ounce Braulio amaro
  • ¼ ounce China-China bitters
  • ¼ ounce Salers Apéritif
  • ¼ ounce Lillet
  • 3 dashes hibiscus bitters
  • Orange peel (for garnish)
Directions

Combine ingredients, except garnish, in cocktail shaker. Stir well, and strain into rocks glass with ice.

Cachaça Inspired Cocktail Recipes
Wine Enthusiast | May 23, 2018