About South American Spirits

The South American spirits category includes cachaça, pisco, aguardiente and other spirits indigenous to South America.

Pisco is a grape based spirit originating in the grape growing regions of Peru, and Chile. Essentially pisco is a pomace brandy and is distilled from the leftover pomace, or solid remains, leftover after grapes are pressed during the winemaking process. The term "pisco" is recognized as an appellation throughout the world and is reserved for these grape based spirits of Peru and Chile.

Cachaça is a sugar cane based spirit originating in Brazil. Similar to Pisco, the term cachaça is recognized as an appellation reserved for these Brazilian spirits. Although similar in style to rum, these spirits are not to be confused. Cachaça is distilled only from fresh sugar cane juice, like agricole rhum, not molasses like most rums on the market,; it is commonly produced as either unaged or wood-aged.

Top Picks for South American Spirits

Pitú Vitoriosa Cachaca
96 points
$120
Unabridged roller coaster flavor ride with intense raw sugar cane complexity dancing with vanilla, toasted almond tea with a long, funky, yet balanced finish.
Kachaca! Unaged Cachaca
93 points
$35
Very complex with bright green notes that will be a hit in appropriate cocktail applications.
Pitú Gold Cachaca
92 points
$24
Best Buy
Fun, spicy and warming, will take any Cachaça cocktail up several notches in flavor and complexity with its wood grilled tropical fruit flavors balanced with warm peppercorns.
92 points $24 Best Buy
Nossa Amburana Wood-Aged Cachaca
88 points
$46
A lighter take on wood-aged Cachaça with all the typical flavors you'd expect from a Brazilian classic; will be great in a Caipirinha.
Pisco Capel Reservado
88 points
$19
Best Buy
Clean and pleasantly fruity, this is a nice and mild introduction to the Pisco category.
88 points $19 Best Buy
Pisco Capel Alto Del Carmen Pisco Reservado
88 points
$23
Very pleasing with approachable aromas and flavors of vanilla candied fruit.