[zorgon]

So there are lots of you Brazil fanatics here, so I figured I would ask... I picked up some cachaca at the liquor store to try making my own caipirihnas, but it was a little bit iffy. I bought the cheapest brand they had, Pitu (has a lobster on the bottle). It was OK when you covered it up with the lime and sugar, I mean, it will still get you wasted and the drink tastes all right, but it wasn't great. If you taste it straight it's pretty nasty. I looked online later and supposedly Mae de Ouro is a lot better, I saw a bunch of people praising it as being really good. Pitu is supposed to be better than some brands that are even worse but is still not considered very good. Any other recommendations?

[tudo bom]

Great observation & an excellent question! I travel frequently within the U.S. (& Brazil) and am always on the look out for cachacas and found dozens of brands in different parts of the U.S.

Hint: look for copper distilled, small batch, and rested (if white), this would be your best chance at obtaining a smoother product. Flavor will vary slightly and will depend on personal taste preference

If you are looking for a good white (clear) cachaca I would say the availability will depend on what part of the country you are in. For example, in NYC, you shouldn't have a hard time finding a few good brands such as Beleza Pura or Cabana, and an array of other better than average brands. Beija seems to be doing o.k. in Boston. Florida has Boca Loca, Moleca, and a dozen other lesser known, but better tasting brands. Mae de Ouro is better than average so if you have that vs. Pitu, you may want to consider it. Nationally, I believe Leblon can be found in most markets, and is also above average. I have opinions on all of these brands, but I would recommend finding a couple in your area to use instead of the so called "industrial" brands, which all tend to be fire water-like. - Hope this helps, Cheers!