Cachaça Calabró aroeira

The Cachaça: Calabró
Origin: Arinos – Minas Gerais
Distilled: n.i. – pot still
Bottled: ca 2017
Maturation: Aroeira wood
ABV: 40%

There’s always a first for something. In this case, it’s my very first cachaça matured in aroeira wood, a timber tree native from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and typical for Caatinga, Cerrado, and Pantanal vegetation in Brazil. Tannins isolated from the stem bark have anti-inflammatory and antiulcer potency, showing a strong antioxidant property for possible therapeutic applications. The species has shown some efficacy in therapeutic use and may turn out to be of benefit to neuro-disease patients. In popular Brazilian culture, an extract from the wood is also used against fever. So let’s drink this one to our good health!

Normally I don’t talk about the colour of a cachaça or rum. I find it totally irrelevant which of the 50 shades of yellow a cachaça has. It says absolutely nothing about its taste nor its quality. Today I make a little exception though. This must be the darkest cachaça with natural colour that I’ve seen, with a nice red glow.

I actually hadn’t heard of the Fazenda Maiza distillery in MG, where this cachaça comes from. I found it in a small shop annex restaurant along the 040 highway in Paracatu – MG. Since it was matured in an unknown type of wood (for me) and would set me back only around 8-9 euro…why not!

The Nose starts, as expected, on vegetal sugarcane notes, albeit rather soft and delicate with a slightly sour undertone. The second impression reminds me of a delicate woman’s perfume of white flowers accompanied by a touch of sea breeze.

The Taste is herbal with very well integrated wood tones, that never become bitter. Its vegetal side is again subtle and soft, with a little sweet touch. A round and easy cachaça, but rich and full with a very pure taste. I can imagine whisky drinkers to like this cachaça. The alcohol is well integrated.

The Finish is rather long, with an undefined fruity taste and just like in the mouth a subtle sweet touch.

Our Score: **** Considering its price this is definitely worth every real!

 

More on the distillery and their products on this site and on this Facebook page