Abelha means ‘bee’ in Portuguese and the striking label offers a swarm of them on this bottle of Abelha Organic Cachaça. It speaks to one of summer days, nature, wholesome pleasures, and all of those happen to be found in Brazil from where this characterful spirit hails.
Cachaça is a popular spirit which some describe as a white rum. Compare Abelha Organic Cachaça with the more predictable white rum from, perhaps, Puerto Rico, and one can see why Brazilians are so keen to promote this as something different. This is a delightfully complex spirit and it deserves a wider audience.
Cachaça is a spirit distilled from cane juice. The cane grows 100% organically in the national park of Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, Northern Brazil. It is made in small batches and distilled in traditional copper pot stills which allow for the production of interesting spirits. Abelha Organic Cachaça has a full exotic fruit nose, fresh sugar cane sweetness and fruity taste, and a silky finish. It is warming, smooth and mouth-filling and it would be a shame to mask its character with cola. Please don’t do that.
Tasting note:
Abelha Organic Cachaça has an intense fruit nose.
Fresh sugar cane and exotic fruits on the palate.
Smooth dry finish.
The best way to enjoy Abelha Organic Cachaça is in a refreshing Caipirinha. It’s Brazil’s national drink and has become popular internationally; it’s been around since the 19th century, which is longer than most cocktails.
The Caipirinha
50 ml Abelha Cachaça Silver
1/2 whole lime cut into pieces (or other fruits such as kiwifruit, passion fruit, pineapple, lemon, grapes, mango)
2 teaspoons sugar
Lots of crushed ice
Muddle the lime, or other fruit, with the sugar in a tumbler. Add a little crushed ice and pour in Abelha Cachaça Silver and stir to chill and slightly dilute. Top up with more crushed ice.