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Velho Barreiro Cachaca
About Velho Barreiro Cachaça
Velho Barreiro Cachaça is produced by Indústrias Reunidas de Bebidas Tatuzinho – a São Paulo based spirits company. Originally founded in 1950, Velho Barreiro remains one of the most well known cachaça brands in Brazil.
Surprisingly, this is the first cachaça that I’ve reviewed on the blog, although it’s certainly not the first time I’ve tried the spirit. If you’re not familiar with cachaça, it’s a Brazilian liquor similar to rum, but made with fresh sugar cane juice instead of molasses.
This particular bottle is also made with sugar cane juice, which is fermented, double distilled, and then rested in oak vats before bottling.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Indústrias Reunidas de Bebidas Tatuzinho 3 Fazenda
❖ Aging: undisclosed
❖ Price Point: low price
My Tasting notes
The nose notes of this cachaça were sweet and complex. There was a vaguely fruity aroma that reminded me a bit of strawberry. It also smelled a little like yogurt.
My first sip was clean and water-like in the front, followed by a burst of spice that seemed like black pepper. This was followed by a light and sweet yogurt-like flavor. As I continued, the blend of spices got more complex, though black pepper was still the most identifiable note.
Overall, this cachaça was more sippable than I expected, as the alcohol was very smooth on my tongue.
Cocktail
For my cocktail, the choice was obvious – I simply had to test out this cachaça with a classic Brazilian cocktail – the caipirinha.
DRINK TITLE
❖ 2oz cachaça
❖ 1 lime
❖ 1 barspoon sugar
- prepare your lime by removing the ends, cutting it into quarters, and removing the pith
- add the sugar into the glass
- add the lime quarters into the glass peel side down, and gently muddle
- Add the cachaça
- Add ice cubes, and stir until chilled
Inside of a cocktail, I was very impressed with this cachaça. The fruity flavor notes worked nicely with the lime peel and lime juice, and it was well balanced. My drink was much more sweet than I expected, as I was prepared for something more on the bitter or sour side.
Bottom Line
RATING: 5/5
At the end of the day, I really enjoyed trying this bottle of Velho Barreiro Cachaça. For the low price, I was definitely expecting something more harsh or bitter, but I found it to be fairly well balanced and interesting. I would definitely feel comfortable recommending it to others.
It’s rare that a budget spirit like this takes me on such a flavor journey, with the enticing spice notes and the shifting stages of each sip. The whole experience put me in a really great mood, when before my tasting I was honestly a little bit under the weather. The flavors of the cachaça paired with the lime was tasty and uplifting. It’s an excellent value for the price point, and I would recommend picking up a bottle for yourself if you get the chance.
As always, drink responsibly.
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