Cachaca in your backyard
We had told you about Cachaca (pronounced Ka-sha-sa) in our lists of exotic alcohols before. But now, if you stay in Bangalore, Delhi or Mumbai—you will be able to purchase this lovely piece of goods which is distilled from sugarcane juice—at upper-end liquor vends.
For the taste buds: As for taste, Cachaca will remind you quite obviously of good old Rum, but there is less of an aftertaste present here than even in white rums, even though Cachaca has an obvious sweetness unlike a neutral spirit like Vodka.
The variety: Diva Cachaca is a clear colour, but you can get Cachacas in a variety of hues, ranging from clear to gold.
The bill: Diva is available for around Rs 1,300 for a 750ml bottle in all three cities.
The twists in the tale: The sweetish taste lends Cachaca well to sweeter, fruitier cocktails, but the alcohol does taste very nice over ice. You do not shoot Cachaca like you would Tequila (you should not do that either, but that’s a different story), rather you savour the flavour of the drink, particularly with the ‘coloured’ Cachaca, which is aged in barrels and tends to have a stronger flavour.
However, the classic Cachaca cocktail, (rather the classic Brazilian cocktail) will always remain Caipirinha.The formula Think of these two cocktails the next time you are stuck in never-ending traffic and cursing the missing traffic cop. Think happy thoughts instead: of what awaits you at home. And we are sure the spirits will be higher than ever before. Try these at home. Caipirinha THE MIX:
The fix: After putting the lime and sugar in a heavy-bottomed glass, use a wooden muddler to crush the two ingredients together. Pour the crushed ice on top and then top it off with the Cachaca. Sip and smile. |
Fruit Cocktails The mix: You can mix Cachaca with virtually any summer fruit you like—strawberries, kiwifruit or lime. The fix: Crush the fruit, add a teaspoon of granulated sugar, some ice-cubes, and add a large measure of Cachaca. Put the mix in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and voilà—a ready fruit cocktail. |
