Batuque Cachaca Sugar Cane Rum

[bluewave6]

Was wondering if anyone has tried this? If so what did you think of it??? Did it have a strong Cachaca taste or was it smoother like an agricole rum?

[robercw]

I received a bottle of this for Christmas. I haven't gone back to it, but my initial impression was that it tasted more like a tequila than a rum. This is my first taste of Cachaca, so I don't have a lot to go on. Once I get to feeling a little better I'll give it another try and let you know what I think. (My family has been passing a stomach bug around for a few days and I hesitate to tempt fate with any spirits):eek:

[Milicent]

I know little to nothing about Cachaca, but I was under the impression it was a distinct spirit from rum. Anyone care to clarify? Thanks in advance.

[robercw]

The lady at the liquor store sold it to my wife as rum, but it doesn't taste like any rum I've ever tried. It says it is a sugar cane spirit on the bottle, but the similarities seemed to end there for me. My first impression was that this particular brand smelled and tasted like tequila. A pretty good tequila, but not what I was expecting.

[Edward Hamilton]

I know little to nothing about Cachaca, but I was under the impression it was a distinct spirit from rum. Anyone care to clarify? Thanks in advance.

Here's a link to a short definition of Cachaзa (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rum101.php#Cacha%E7a). There are literally thousands of cachaзa distillers in Brazil (http://www.ministryofrum.com/countrydetails.php?c=15) so the quality varies considerably. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to add all of the information about some of the distillers in the database because information is very sketchy and more than a few importers don't want to tell anyone where they are buying their spirit from for fear that someone else will circumvent their supply.

[Tiare]

I don`t know much about different cachacas either but i have got the impression that one of the better brands is Leblon.

[Torpnubber]

Ed is correct in stating that there are literally thousands of cachaca producers.
Many of these are local and provincial small pot distillers.

Comparing tequila to cachaca is helpful in one perspective.
For those familiar with tequila, there are essentially 3 grades of 100% agave spirits: Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo. Most cachacas can be classified in the same manner, although there are no formalized groupings.

Most cachaca is distilled and bottled without any aging, similar to a Tequila Blanco. The cachacas that fall into this category are ones that many people are familiar with; Pitu and Pirassununga 51. These are neutral spirits, more similar to vodka that rum, and they mix well with fruits.

Batuque is more similar to a Reposado (literally meaning rested). It is a spirit that is aged short term in a local wood (Mahogany, Jatoba, Balsam). Aging in wood helps round out the spirit and makes it a more sippable drink.

Cachacas that are aged long term are similar to Anejo Tequila. You won't find many of these in the States right now but they are coming.
Look for brands like Rochinha which is aged either 5 or 10 years and is rather pricey. These spirits can be compared to a single malt or Anejo Tequila.

There are so many variations, though, that I think this is just a basic guide. There are brands like Armazem Vieira, that have an 8 or 16 year old cachaca that is aged in huge oak barrels. This keeps the classic taste of cachaca while imparting just a bit of wood flavor. They are then blended, like a scotch.

It's amazing, even though there are thousands of brands, here in Pennsylvania, there are only 3 or 4 available (Leblon, Pitu, and P51) :(

[Edward Hamilton]

I don`t know much about different cachacas either but i have got the impression that one of the better brands is Leblon.

Leblon is distilled in Brazil then aged in oak casks in France. There is some dispute about whether it could be called cachaça in Brazil, especially amongst cachaça importers. Aging does make it smoother than many of of the other cachaças.

[RumBarPhilly]

It's amazing, even though there are thousands of brands, here in Pennsylvania, there are only 3 or 4 available (Leblon, Pitu, and P51) :(

Cachaca is growing in PA, at least through special order. Fazenda Mae de Ouro became available last month. Beleza Pura was introduced last week. There is one other, but Im unsure of its name. Most distributors update their portfolio in January/February. Based on the new trend of cachacas, its very possible that a lot more will be available in coming months.

[RobertBurr]

Cachaзa (ka-SHA-sa)

I hosted a tasting of quality cachaзa products back on October, featuring several very good brands now widely available here including Leblon, Moleca, Cuca Fresca and Aqua Luca. We also tasted Oronoco as a contrasting product from Brazil. (dee-lish-us)

There are many Brazilians in South Florida. It seems that everyone of them has an uncle who makes cachaзa. To them, it's cheap, it's mixed with fresh ingredients, it gets the party started quickly and keeps it going for a long time. Brazilian culture is considered youthful, sexy, uninhibited, exciting, sexy, festive, exotic, sexy and high-spirited. Cachaзa takes a lot of the credit.

Ironically, cachaзa producers are trying hard to overcome it's reputation as hillbilly moonshine by presenting exquisite products, such as those mentioned above, which often retail for $30 to $45 here. While there are artisanal cachaзa products in Brazil that are not cheap (Ypioca 160 is to die for), most Brazilians would never pay such prices for their national beverage which is available for dirt cheap prices back home.

Brazil distills more alcohol from sugar cane that any other country by a wide margin. Most of it goes in the gas tanks of their cars and they're completely self-sufficient in terms of foreign oil. They joke that the cheap stuff goes in the tank, the good stuff on the rocks.

I have a directory of cachaзa products printed by the Academia da Cachaзa in the town of Leblon which lists about 90 of the top quality brands available in Brazil. Here's a link to the web site:

Acadamia da Cachaзa (http://www.academiadacachaca.com.br/english/history/index.htm)

[Edward Hamilton]

You're absolutely right about cachaça marketers having to overcome the price point of many of the imports. And none of these are really like the ones that granddad makes so it's a real stretch for a Brazilian to pay 10 or 20 times as much as he or she would at home for something which isn't as good, to them, as the one they're used to.

We tend to like what we're used to, whether it's the rum in our glass or the food on our plate. It takes time to change our preferences, and to pay more for something else to which we are not yet accustomed further challenges the importer and marketer.

[angelsword]

I don`t know much about different cachacas either but i have got the impression that one of the better brands is Leblon.

Leblon tastes much like a standard light rum, maybe even less flavor. Not really a good choice in my opinion.

[Goslings]

I would not mind hearing some comments comparing Cachaca to Rum Agricole. In my mind, they are very similar. Both signature drinks are very close to each other. The Caipirinha and Ti Punch. I am sure I am making this too basic, but what is the difference really? Other than the obvious - where they are produced.

[Tiare]

Interesting question. I cannot help you much though as i have only one Cachaca at home (Jamel) but i compared it to some of my agricoles (Depaz blanc, the 4 different St James, la Belle Cabresse and my newest "baby" Clèment vieux, and i find a hint of the "agricole grassiness" both in the nose and in the flavor in the Cachaca but i find it to be more pronounced in the agricoles. They just don´t taste the same. But the agricoles are also tasting differently from each other... Maybe someone have more Cachacas to compare with?

[RobertBurr]

I would not mind hearing some comments comparing Cachaca to Rum Agricole. In my mind, they are very similar. Both signature drinks are very close to each other. The Caipirinha and Ti Punch. I am sure I am making this too basic, but what is the difference really? Other than the obvious - where they are produced.

The most obvious difference to me is the maturity. Few cachaзa product are aged much, whereas rhums agricole are known for their serious maturing in fine oaks.

The aged cachaзas I sampled often take advantage of unique hardwoods in Brazil which impart flavors unique to that region.

In general terms, Brazil's approach is more of a large quantity cheaper product that everyone's uncle makes, compared to the French islands which insist on high quality and strict standards.

[Goslings]

The most obvious difference to me is the maturity. Few cachaзa product are aged much, whereas rhums agricole are known for their serious maturing in fine oaks.

The aged cachaзas I sampled often take advantage of unique hardwoods in Brazil which impart flavors unique to that region.

In general terms, Brazil's approach is more of a large quantity cheaper product that everyone's uncle makes, compared to the French islands which insist on high quality and strict standards.

That makes sense to me. I have a bottle of Pitu but it seems like this might not be the best representation out there. Somewhat like the Smirnoff of Cachaca's. I do however have a decent rhum agricole. Might try a Caipirinha with it.

[Edward Hamilton]

There are several similarities and differences between rhum agricole and cachaзa. First, both are distilled from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. On Martinique, all rhum agricole must be made from one or more kinds of 12 approved sugar cane varieties. Rhum agricole from Guadeloupe, for example, can be made from other sugar cane varieties though most distillers use those grown on Martinique as in the future they will also have an AOC mark.
Cachaзa can be made from any kind of sugar cane.

By law, cachaзa must be distilled to between 38 and 54% abv. Rhum agricole on the other hand must be distilled to not more than 75% abv. Most distillers distill their rhum agricole at about 72% abv.

Then there is the aging process, rhum agricole must be aged in small oak barrels while cachaзa can be aged in a variety of woods.

[Johnniesworld]

That makes sense to me. I have a bottle of Pitu but it seems like this might not be the best representation out there. Somewhat like the Smirnoff of Cachaca's. I do however have a decent rhum agricole. Might try a Caipirinha with it.

Hi Goslings,

You can find Sagatiba in Canada now. I'm not sure who distributes in Toronto, but I'll find out. Sagatiba is available in some parts of Canada through White Fish Group www.whitefishgroup.com

Let me know how you get on.....and if there is anything else I can do.