5 Facts About Cachaça You May Not Know

If you're like us, you like to know a little bit about something new before you try it. In this short blog, you will learn five helpful facts about Brazilian Cachaça, in case you are new to the scene, or just curious to know more about it. Here is our fresh take. 

 1. What is cachaça, really?

Cachaça is a liquor made from pressed sugar cane.

 2. Where is cachaça made?

Cachaça is made in Brazil. In 2013, Brazil decreed “Brazilian Rum” would no longer be used in describing the product. Since then, the Brazilian government has made efforts to ensure Cachaça is widely recognized as being distinctively Brazilian in the U.S. and other countries. 

 3. How is cachaça made?

Cachaça is typically made from fresh sugarcane juice, then fermented, distilled, and stored for a certain period in stills or barrels. Bitter Feminist Cachaça specifically is manufactured near the Atlantic Rainforest using sugar cane grown in the São Fidelis mountains. After about one year of growth, the sugar cane is harvested, carefully separated and pressed. The sugarcane juice produced is then twice distilled in copper stills and rested for nine months.

 4. What does cachaça taste like?

There is an array of flavor possibilities when it comes to Cachaça, making it quite versatile. Since Cachaça is distilled from raw sugarcane, it retains subtle notes of sugar cane with a variety of other notes possible as well. For example, Bitter Feminist Cachaça has hints of nectarine and melon, while other variations take on more grassy or earthy qualities.

There are also more nutty and fruity types, particularly when the Cachaça is stored in indigenous Brazilian hardwoods. Some have a more herbal note, while others have hints of toffee or vanilla. 

Cachaça can be sipped on its own or made into a delicious cocktail. It can serve as a complement to or substitute for a variety of traditional, perhaps more familiar, liquor options. Many cocktails that typically call for rum, vodka, tequila, or bourbon can also be made using Cachaça. For example, a "Tequila Sunrise"  becomes a "Brazilian Sunrise". Vodka and Lemonade becomes a "Cachaça Cooler".

 5. What’s the difference between Cachaça and rum?

Technically, Cachaça and rum are alike because both are made from sugar cane, but there are some major differences between the two that make Cachaça uniquely different from its rum counterpart.  

Production Process

• Cachaça is a Brazilian product distilled from fermented sugarcane juice. 
• Rum is distilled from molasses, a cooked byproduct of sugar production

Production Location

• Cachaça is a distinctly Brazilian spirit that is closely aligned with Brazilian culture and cannot be made outside of the country.
• Rum production is not restricted to one specific region or country. Although it is often associated with the Caribbean region, it is also made in the United States, Mexico, South America, and Asia. 

Flavor and Aroma Profile

• Cachaça is made from raw sugar cane, and its flavor can vary depending on where it is grown, how it is processed and stored. It can taste fruity or nutty or take on more grassy or earthy qualities.
• Rum on the other hand, tends to be sweeter with more notes of vanilla because it is distilled from molasses, not raw sugarcane. 

Alcohol Content

• Cachaça must be between 38% and 48% (ABV), according to Brazilian legislation.
• Rum may range from an alcohol content of 35% to 54% (ABV). 

Now that you know some Cachaça basics, the next step is to try it in your favorite cocktail!  We can’t wait to see your creations.