Step into the vibrant world of Brazilian spirits and experience the tropical soul that has been cherished by Brazilians for centuries. Weber Distillery, an esteemed distributor of Brazilian beverages in the UK, is dedicated to sharing Brazil's best-kept secrets with the rest of the world. Cachaça, a quintessential Brazilian spirit, holds a special place in the hearts of Brazilians. Unlike rum, cachaça is distilled from fresh sugar cane juice, resulting in a lighter and more refreshing flavour profile. Its uniqueness has earned it the title of "the mother of rum," as it was crafted in Brazil long before rum found its way to the Caribbean.
Cachaça is made in Brazil, and only in Brazil. Its name, ingredients and alcohol level are protected just like Scotch is protected in Scotland. And just like whisky, there are hundreds of different varieties, aged and unaged, so why not give it a try and see which you prefer?
Brazilians have been making cachaça for a looooong time. It was first produced in a sugar mill somewhere on the coast, between 1516 and 1532, and it all started with a cow.
As sugar cane was boiled on farms to make sugar, the foam it made was added to the farm’s feeding troughs. This liquid fermented and turned into a broth the farmers called “cagaça”. The cows loved it and the rest is history. Cachaça is now produced all over the country often by small, artisanal distilleries. Landscape is as important to cachaça as ‘terroir’ is to wine, with local conditions creating each drink’s complexity.
Light and refreshing or dark and intense, we’ve got a cachaça for everyone!
Most spirits are aged in oak casks. Cachaça producers also use oak, but also casks made of wood found only in Brazil like Amburana, Jequitibá, Amendoim, Ipê or Freijó. What’s important is not how you pronounce them but the flavours they create - sweet, spicy, earthy, woody - each enhances the flavour of cachaça in its own way.
And lastly, most cachaça is organic. Producers usually do everything under one roof from growing the cane to fermenting, distilling and bottling the liquid. They use natural fertilizer, they use wild yeast and they add nothing to the finished product except spring water. If you add solar energy to the mix as our friends at Weber Haus do, spirits production in Brazil is highly sustainable. In fact the Weber Haus distillery has been certified 100% organic and 100% sustainable - and that includes their gin and rum too.