Cachaça is the national spirit of Brazil, distilled from sugar cane and sometimes referred to as Brazilian rum. They make a staggering 1.5 billion liters of it, 90% of which is consumed at home. Despite the fact that cachaça is the world’s third-largest spirit by volume, many Americans haven’t heard of it—if they have, it’s probably due to the caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail. Mark talks with Steve Luttman, CEO of Leblon Cachaça, one of the leading U.S. brands, to get an insight into why the Brazilian culture is considered so exotic and appealing in this country. On Bizarre Beverage News, Mark investigates the fact that Americans are now drinking more Italian wine than Italians; breaks the news about the coming glut of Moscato; explores the trend toward shipping wine in huge plastic bladders, and reveals the electronic nose that can tell the difference between different styles of craft beer.
LINKS:
Leblon Cachaça—Link to: http://www.leblonchaca.com
Binny’s Beverage Depot—Link to: http://www.binnys.com
Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History—Link to:
http://www.iconicspirits.net