5 Artisanal Cachaças to Taste in Brazil

One thing you can't miss out on in Rio de Janeiro is tasting the famous Cachaça, a Brazilian distilled spirit made from sugar cane. Not only does it make for a great souvenir, it's also a great reason to head out for an authentic night of carioca entertainment in a Lapa bar. To help you distinguish between the endless array of brands, here's our essential list of 5 artisanal cachaças to try while you're in the Marvellous City.

1. CACHAÇA VALE VERDE

Produced in Betim, in the state of Minas Gerais, Cachaça Vale Verde has received major awards for its high-quality distillation - in 2007 it was named the Best Label in Latin America and in 2010 it won the Spirit Business Cachaça Masters Award.

Cachaça Vale Verde places a premium on sustainable practices when it comes to producing its top quality cachaça. Besides an emphasis on using natural ingredients, the distillery also pumps money into environmental conservation and planting trees. You can visit the distillery and its ecological park, where there is also a museum of cachaça.

Where to taste Cachaça Vale Verde in Rio: Casa da Cachaça, 100 Avenida Mem de Sá, Lapa.

2. CACHAÇA MARIA IZABEL

Considered one of the most beautiful distilleries in the region of Paraty, in the southern state of Rio de Janeiro, Maria Izabel is a rustic place by the sea that produces up to 15,000 litres of cachaça each year. The label was named after the producer, Maria Izabel, who was (and is) famed for her cachaça, with people asking for the "cachaça of Maria Izabel" in bars.

Where to try Maria Izabel in Rio: Armazém São Thiago, 26 Rua Aura, Santa Tereza.

3. CACHAÇA ROCINHA

The second most expensive cachaça from Brazil is aged in French oak barrels for 12 years, creating a distinct flavour. Rocinha Cachaça is produced in Barra Mansa on Cachoeira Farm, where the sugarcane is harvested manually and no type of mixing is allowed in the production. The still used is also made of copper, which results in a high production quality.

This high-quality cachaça is crystalline in colour and has striking notes of coconut and vanilla.

4. CACHAÇA HAVANA

After winning the title of best cachaça in Brazil, Chacaça Havana has become famous among spirit lovers. The delicious cachaça is aged in balsam barrels for 10 years. Havana has been produced since the 1940s, but it has recently undergone a change in name and is now called Anísio Santiago. If you can find a bottle with the old Havana label, consider yourself very lucky!

An interesting curiosity about this cachaça is that there are many rumours that say the producer, Anísio Santiago, paid the employees with bottles of Havana - which are considered rare and valuable today.

Where to taste Cachaça Havana in Rio: Otto Bar e Restaurante, 380 Rua Uruguai, Tijuca.

5. CACHAÇA BOAZINHA

Chosen through a blind test by the Cachaça Summit as the third best cachaça of Brazil in 2014, Boazinha is one of the best-selling artisanal brands in the country. The story of the origin of its name, given by its customers, is that people used to arrive at the bar saying "me vê uma daquela boazinha" (give me one of those good ones).

Boazinha is produced by a big, folkloric character in the world of artisanal cachaça: Antonio Rodrigues. Often seen walking the streets of Salinas, a small town in Minas Gerais, this producer has a passion for what he does, and has said that "cachaça is drunk in all situations, in joy and sorrow, in birth and death."

Where to try Boazinha in Rio: Botequim Informal Leblon, 26 Rua Conde de Bernadote, Leblon.

Now that you have an idea of the delicious artisanal cachaça that you can enjoy in Brazil, choose one or two (or all) to try on a night out in Rio, or to take home as a great souvenir.

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By: Luiza Cavalcante / Translated by: Nicole Eberhard