Comments on: Cachaça – Brazilian Rum?

By: Paolo

Paolo — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:03:39 +0000

Having lived in brazil for years before moving to US 8 years ago, my father was a cachaça maker, so I find it funny to hear that the “culinary alcoholic” who has been to brazil 2 times is such an “authority”. 28 brands is really nothing as there are thosands of cachacas made in brazil. no one here has ever heard of cabana cachaca and it sounds like they are trying to make vodka rather than cachaca. why so much distillation? drink what you like – even pitu!

By: Reese

Reese — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:05:30 +0000

Tawny – Most larger liquor stores will usually carry some cachaca as well. Some will put it near the rum section and others not. I’d recommend asking at your favorite local store.

By: Tawny Lees

Tawny Lees — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:10:19 +0000

so where can I buy Cachaca in the San Francisco bay area? Not just drink it at a bar, but buy a bottle (or many…)

By: Culinary Alcoholic

Culinary Alcoholic — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:51:35 +0000

Hi Reese,
First, am writing from South America where typing on a Latin keyboard is a funny task, so please excuse any typos … Your post on Cachaca is a curious read and it certainly helps that you readily admit you´re a novice to this category. My bar, Cantina in San Francisco, just might have the most authorative and authentic selection of cachacas in the U.S., at 28 different bottlings, and I have visited distilleries in Brazil on two separate occasions in addition to hosting multiple seminars (one of which Alcademics Mr. English recently attended) and have been on the payroll for Cabana, Sagatiba and Boca Loca at various times. My point: I just might know Cachaca. That said, you missed the biggest distinction in Cachaca when profiling the category: industrial vs. artisanal, and columñ vs. pot distillatioñ. So, please enjoy your research on this matter.
My second point: your palate for spirits is how mine was when I used to roll with a fifth of Old Crow in the back of my jeans, a thermos of Turkey beneath the driver´s seat of my car: You like it rough. And that can be fun. But the great majority of experts in tasting cane distillates have vastly different palates, including recent seminars across the country attended by many leaders of the United States Bartenders Guild and rum authority Ed Hamilton. As for you and I – let’s get hammered sometime.
Until then, know that Pitu retails for $3 a bottle in Brazil and is also used for industrial fuel purposes while the Master Distiller of Cabana revolutionized small batch Cachaca and it tastes damn good fresh off the still.
Drop me a line when you´re coming West and we´ll do a proper flight of Cachaca tasting together.

By: jon

jon — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:44:48 +0000

The fact that they ranked Pitu anywhere above flavored toilet water demonstrates the validity of this post.

By: caitlin

caitlin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:40:27 +0000

i’m actually a big fan of Cabana Cachaca! i find that it’s very versatile and works well in all kinds of different cocktails. i met the brand’s master distiller, cesar cestari, when i was at the SOBE food and wine festival a few weekends ago and he’s been making cachaca for most of his life, not to mention that he’s lived in brazil his entire life. if that’s not authentically brasilian, i don’t know what is.