About Brazilian Spirits

About Brazilian Spirits
The signature spirit of Brazil is cachaça (ca·sha·sa) which distilled from fresh sugarcane juice. There are two styles, unaged, which is bottled just after distillation, and aged, which is aged in American, Brazilian, or French oak barrels from three to twelve years; some of these aged versions are double distilled.

The best examples of cachaça offer flavors of banana, powdered sugar, coconut and pepper; some have a more rustic, fuel-like character. While some cachaças are enjoyed on their own, most are used to mix in cocktails, in particular Brazil’s national cocktail, The Caipirinha (kie-purr-REEN-yah), which is simply cachaça, sugar, and muddled lime.

Top Picks for Brazil

Pitú Vitoriosa Cachaça
97 points
$120
An intriguingly rustic, rich, and warming aged cachaça that invites another sip.
Awards: 2022 Best Wood Aged Cachaca
Germana Soul Cachaça
96 points
$37
A graceful and complex Cachaça with nuanced layers of flavor for sipping or thoughtful cocktails.
Germana Cachaça Da Palha
95 points
$54
A pure and well rounded Cachaça with flavors that glide across the palate to a warm satisfying finish.
Cachaça Bela Ouro Wood Aged Cachaça
93 points
$45
Barrel dominated flavors, but a cornucopia of sweet tropical spices that make for an awesome autumnal sipper.
Germana Caetanos Cachaça
93 points
$37
A rich, wood-aged Cachaça with an interesting range of savory and sweet flavors.
Novo Fogo Bar Strength Silver Cachaca
93 points
$24
Best Buy
A complex, highly hedonic Cachaca with intricate layers of flavor.
Awards: 2021 Best Unaged Cachaca
93 points $24 Best Buy
Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça
93 points
$32.99
A delicious Wood Aged Cachaca with bright grassy cane note coupled with creamy oak; a sophisticated treat on its own or in thoughtfully crafted cocktails.
Awards: 2021 Best Wood Aged Cachaca
93 points $32.99
Pitú Gold Cachaça
92 points
$24
Best Buy
A buoyant and bountiful wood-aged cachaça that will be extremely versatile.
92 points $24 Best Buy
Novo Fogo Brazilian Old Fashioned Highball Ready-To-Drink Cocktail
88 points
Grassy Cachaca and fizzy ginger flavors; an easy pleaser for the cocktail curious.
McQueen & the Violet Fog Gin
87 points
$34.99
Gin
A cucumber-inflected, sweet and floral gin that radiates springtime.
87 points $34.99