Tastes

Cachaçaria Melicana is a craft distillery located in Bom Despacho, in the central-western region of Minas Gerais. It was created by businessman Carlos José de Assis, a lover of honey brandy, who decided to produce the distillate for his own consumption. He is demanding in everything he does, and with honey brandy it was no different. He began to work tirelessly until he achieved the ideal quality for his taste. After producing the honey brandy, Carlos decided to also make one made from sugar cane. Using the same quality criteria, he managed to create a product that pleased his friends who stopped by to have a sip and give their opinions on its quality. Later, Carlinhos, as he is known to his friends, saw in that idea a business opportunity and decided to legally market his products. “But what should I call my cachaça?” he thought, but soon concluded: “if I make honey brandy and sugar cane cachaça, I will call it Melicana.” And so, in 2004, Cachaçaria Melicana was born, producing traditional amburana cachaça and honey and molasses spirits, which, after being produced, are left to rest in wooden barrels to give their flavor personality. Cachaça Melicana Três Madeiras Pura Arte 700ml is a special edition, produced through a blend. It is first stored in chestnut barrels for two years, then spends another two years in balsam barrels and, finally, one year in amburana vats. Light, it has an alcohol content of 40%. The name Melicana is the combination of the two raw materials of the distillates produced at the cachaçaria: honey, for the spirits, and sugar cane, for the cachaças. Source: Cachaçaria Nacional

Cachaça Matuta is originally from the mountain region of Brejo in the city of Areia/PB. Produced at Engenho Vaca Brava, traditional since 1865, famous for its fertile soils and fine candy. The region is a traditional producer of cachaça in the State of Paraíba. Cachaça Matuta was stored for 1 year in Umburana barrels and has 39% alcohol content. Woody notes, vanilla, pleasant sweetness, balanced alcohol and acidity, medium-long finish. Source: Rei da Cachaça website.

This is a sugar cane spirit (the name is Aguardente de Cana) and not Cachaça, as, according to Brazilian legislation, to be cachaça the alcohol content must be between 38% and 48%. Aguardente Rainha has 50% alcohol content. Some Brazilian websites incorrectly call this spirit "Rainha Paraibana" in a reference to the Brazilian state called Paraíba where the drink is produced. The correct name is just "Rainha" (It means "Queen"). The still has been producing this spirit since 1877 in the city of Bananeiras, state of Paraíba. Despite having 50% alcohol content and being a powerful distillate, it is a drink with personality, but at the same time pleasant and soft, as the alcohol is integrated, as it stay a period in big barrels (dornas) made of Freijó, a very neutral Brazilian wood. used to soften young distillates. Notes: clean, translucent, has floral, herbal notes, sweetness from sugar cane, good body and persistent finish.

Cachaça Samanaú began to be produced in 2004 when Vidalvo Dadá Costa accepted the challenge and installed an artisanal still at Sítio Samanaú, in the city of Caicó, in Sertão do Seridó, Rio Grande do Norte. But it all started way back, in 1994 with the construction of the Passagem das Traíras Dam, perpetuating the Seridó River, fundamental for the increase in sugar cane cultivation in that region. According to the manufacturer, sugarcane from this region is different because it has a higher sucrose content, due to the 4000 hours of sunlight per year and the large temperature range between day and night. The still awaits certification of organic cachaça, as it does not use pesticides and chemical fertilizers during the planting of sugarcane. Cachaça Samanaú Prata, this cachaça is stored for 6 months in stainless steel tanks. Sensory Features: Visual: translucid, clear, limpid and bright. Olfactory: very fine, intense and persistent. Delicate floral notes, herbal touch, vegetal notes, . Taste: same notes of nose, but the alcohol is integrated. Arising from the organic production process. Balanced acidity and special flavor with agreeable sweetness. Final Impression: intense and persistent, leaving an aftertaste with fine herbs, persisting floral traces and notes of sweetness of sugarcane. Pairing: Due to the light presence of herbal and vegetal notes, it is ideal to accompany seafood, salads and others light dishes. Source: Cachaças Brasileiras website.

Cachaça Samanaú began to be produced in 2004 when Vidalvo Dadá Costa accepted the challenge and installed an artisanal still at Sítio Samanaú, in the city of Caicó, in Sertão do Seridó, Rio Grande do Norte. But it all started way back, in 1994 with the construction of the Passagem das Traíras Dam, perpetuating the Seridó River, fundamental for the increase in sugar cane cultivation in that region. According to the manufacturer, sugarcane from this region is different because it has a higher sucrose content, due to the 4000 hours of sunlight per year and the large temperature range between day and night. The still awaits certification of organic cachaça, as it does not use pesticides and chemical fertilizers during the planting of sugarcane. Cachaça Samanaú Ouro, this cachaça is stored for 6 months in cinnamon laurel barrels. Sensory Features: Visual: dense, clear and bright. Olfactory: very fine, intense and persistent. Delicate floral notes, discreet wood, almond and spices, pulling towards cinnamon. Taste: soft, light and fine. Arising from the organic production process. Balanced acidity and special flavor with discreet sweetness. Final Impression: intense and persistent, leaving an aftertaste with fine herbs, persisting floral traces and notes of cinnamon and caramel. Pairing: Due to the light presence of caramel, almonds and cinnamon, it is ideal to accompany desserts: sweets, ice cream, cakes and pies.

Cachaça Serra Limpa is produced at Fazenda Imaculada Conceição, in Duas Estradas, in the hinterland of Paraíba. At the beginning of production, it was an informal drink and only entered the market after sugar production plants in the region began to close. It is one of the few cachaças considered organic, being 100% natural. With strong metallic and mineral traces on the nose, it is a full-bodied drink, with present, fine, intense and persistent acidity in the mouth. Cachaça Serra Limpa Prata 355ml is a drink stored for six months in stainless steel barrels. Robust, it has an alcohol content of 45%. It is one of the only 100% organic Craft Cachaças in Brazil. Source Cachaçaria Nacional.

There is no information about the cachaça or the producer. On the producer's website, there is news that the cachaça won a competition called Hyatt (probably related to the Hotel Hyatt) in São Paulo in 2005. With 45% integrated alcohol, aromatic, sugarcane sweetness, floral, herbal, medium-long finish.

Cachaça Caraçuípe is a tribute to the memory of the Coutinho family. Behind the products, there is the rescue of tradition and family experience that transcended generations and places Alagoas among the best producers of cachaça in the country. With the determination to rescue the family's history, the sugarcane producer, Renato Coutinho, immersed himself in the dream of his grandfather Antonio and his uncle Benedito, who in 1933 acquired the mill. Already at that time, the two brothers always maintained a rich dialogue about life and work, and managed to carry out a sequence of successful experiences in sugar enterprises. Cachaça Caraçuípe Extra Premium, is the icon of producer, a nice Cachaca with one year and six months of storage in oak barrels and guarantees a high standard of quality and a unique experience. The flavor is smooth, while the aroma brings slightly floral and sweetl notes, sugar cane sweetness, integrated alcohol, vanilla, honey, medium-long finish. Pairs with nuts, and meat, especially pork dishes. Cachaça Caraçuípe Extra Premium Carvalho 750ml is a drink distilled in copper stills and aged in French oak barrels for three and a half years, which guarantees a bright golden yellow color and a viscous texture. Its aroma is reminiscent of woody notes of vanilla, dark chocolate and tobacco, while its balanced flavor is reminiscent of nuts and vanilla. Light, has an alcohol content of 40%. Pairs well with red meat, spicy dishes and game meat. SOURCE: Cachaçaria Nacional & Cachaças do Nordeste

Cachaça Caraçuípe is a tribute to the memory of the Coutinho family. Behind the products, there is the rescue of tradition and family experience that transcended generations and places Alagoas among the best producers of cachaça in the country. With the determination to rescue the family's history, the sugarcane producer, Renato Coutinho, immersed himself in the dream of his grandfather Antonio and his uncle Benedito, who in 1933 acquired the mill. Already at that time, the two brothers always maintained a rich dialogue about life and work, and managed to carry out a sequence of successful experiences in sugar enterprises. Cachaça Caraçuípe Ouro, is the base of Cachaça with wood, with one year and six months of storage in oak barrels and guarantees a high standard of quality and a unique experience. The flavor is smooth, while the aroma brings slightly floral and sweetl notes, sugar cane sweetness, integrated alcohol, vanilla, honey, medium-long finish. Pairs with nuts, and meat, especially pork dishes. SOURCE: Cachaçaria Nacional & Cachaças do Nordeste