Storing and serving cachaça correctly – what you need to know

Cachaça is more than just a cocktail ingredient – it is Brazil’s national spirit with a centuries-old history. But how do you store Cachaça properly? How should it be served? And what is the difference between a standard and an artisanal Cachaça? We explain.

What is Cachaça?

Cachaça is a Brazilian sugarcane spirit – made from freshly pressed, fermented sugarcane juice. Unlike rum, which is often distilled from molasses, Cachaça is made exclusively from fresh sugarcane juice. This gives it a fresher, more vegetal aroma. Cachaça is the base of the world-famous Caipirinha – but it is capable of much more.

Storing Cachaça properly

• Cool and dark: Cachaça should be stored away from light and at a constant temperature (15–20 °C). Direct sunlight alters the aroma.
• Store upright: Unlike wine, Cachaça is stored upright – the alcohol would corrode the cork.
• Opened bottles: Consume within 1–2 years of opening. Cachaça oxidizes slowly, but loses almost no quality.
• Cask-aged Cachaça: Artisanal Cachaças that have been aged in wooden barrels can become even more complex after opening – similar to whiskey.

Serving Cachaça properly

• Temperature: White (unaged) Cachaça is best served well-chilled – ideal for Caipirinhas. Enjoy cask-aged Cachaça at room temperature (like whiskey or cognac).
• Glassware: For Cachaça enjoyed neat, use a tumbler or nosing glass – this allows the aroma to unfold better.
• Neat or with ice: Drink high-quality artisanal Cachaça neat or with a large ice cube – this preserves the aroma.
• Caipirinha: Lime, sugar, ice, Cachaça – the classic formula. Important: use fresh limes, not bottled lime juice.

White vs. cask-aged Cachaça – what is the difference?

• White Cachaça (Prata/Branca): Freshly distilled, clear, fruity and vegetal. Ideal for cocktails.
• Cask-aged Cachaça (Ouro/Amarela): Aged in wooden barrels made from premium Brazilian hardwoods such as Amburana, Ipê, or Balsam wood. Complex, spicy, with notes of vanilla and wood. For drinking neat.

Our Cachaça recommendations

Whether for the perfect Caipirinha or for enjoying neat – in our Cachaça selection, you will find white and cask-aged artisanal Cachaças from the best distilleries in Brazil.