Distiller Notes
Novo Fogo ages their organic cachaca distillate in 53-gallon American oak bourbon barrels that have been taken apart, sanded, and re-toasted. The 2-3 year process takes place in the heat and humidity of our home in the Atlantic Rainforest. The result? Banana bread, with notes of chocolate, cinnamon bark, and coffee. Nuances of pepper remain, but the cachaca’s time spent in wood changes its spiciness from fresh red pepper to toasty black pepper.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Golden and bright in the glass, look for a mild, honeyed aroma accented by tropical fruit. The bold palate shows plenty of vanilla, coconut and brown sugar sweetness, underpinned by ripe banana and finishing with delicate mocha, nutmeg and ginger flecks. Aged two years.
Brazil’s national drink, and by far their most popular spirit with well over a thousand domestic producers, Cachaca is just now making its debut in the U.S. In many ways it is similar to Rum. But while most modern Rums are made from molasses or other sugar by-products, only fresh sugar cane juice can be used to make Cachaca. This yields a more floral and herbaceous flavor profile compared to Rum. Both unaged (prata, “silver”) and barrel-aged (ouro, “gold”) expressions are available and used as a base for tropical drinks, like the traditional, Caipirinha.