Sagatiba Pura Cachaça

BBQ sauce, grass, sugar cane, waxy varnish, bread, herbs, pepper. Harsh initial spiciness but smooth, piney finish.

Nose: Crisp, fresh grassy and herbaceous aromas. A sprightly and refreshing nose. A light sweet floral tone that is dainty and delightful – like jasmine noticed on a warm breeze. Ahhh. Faint incense tones of patchouli and sandalwood – this is exquisite. A little baked banana and vanilla in the background. Palate: Soft, slightly dry but with a silky mouth-feel. Fine sugar (like powdered cake frosting sugar), slightly herbal, but not overpoweringly so. Mineral notes and a touch of spicy dill seed and white pepper. The texture is seductive. Finish: Short. A smooth, mineral and sugar taste that fades out to the faintest possible grassy aftertaste. This is the first chacaça I’ve tasted and I feel like I’ve been missing out on something. I also feel like I'm lazing on a beach recliner in warm tropical shade and imbibing the aromas of flowering plants while sipping something light, cool and characterful. This is very pleasant. Chacaça is a Brazilian spirit that could be described *very* loosely as Brazilian rhum agricole. It shares a number of aroma and taste facets with both white rum and blanc agricole, but it’s not quite like either. There is none of the heavy sugar-laden bulk you get with almost all white rum and I’m pretty sure there is either no after-distillation sweetening going on, or if there is then it is has been done with a light touch. It has that fresh grassy quality of blanc rhums agricole, but the hogo is very restrained – almost undetectable. This is certainly not the hair-raising experience that Haitian clairin can be! A pleasant, soft, clean and versatile spirit this is as cheap as chips. A bottle of this is less expensive here than Johnnie Walker Black. I’m sold and I now understand why this took the world by storm a couple of decades ago and the caipirinha became such a popular drink (it’s similar to Ti'Punch). This is one of only two brands of chacaça I’ve been able to find locally and I'm enjoying it a lot. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

A bit Rough round the edges but the herbal and strong boozy flavours make for a great caipirinha.