Capucana Cachaça - 42% abv.
Today I am taking a closer look at Capucana (“House of Canes") Cachaça - not exactly a rum, but a cane based spirit none the less. This Cachaça is produced by a Danish owned distillery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A total of 9 different varieties of cane, spread across 3 estates are used in the blend. Four of these are individually aged for up 3 years in third use American oak barrels that have seen Bourbon followed by Islay Scotch. The other 5 varieties are added to the blend unaged.
According to Cachaça production regulations in Brazil, Cachaças are single distilled and bottled with an abv. ranging between 38-48%. Capucana is bottled at 42%, making it a mid-ranged Cachaça, although the majority of the Cachaças found on the international market today are at 40% or below. On the nose - quite tame. Some Cachaças can be quite funky/dirty/grassy/briny, but here very little of that character is coming through. Instead I get slight woody notes up front with hints of vanilla, dry oak and cinnamon. Black pepper, cocoa and mild coffee beans. Light fruity notes also come through, with emphasis on green apple and pear. Slightly sour... While not overly green-grassy, I do pick up dried grass, almost like bales of straw and hay. I was expecting a bit more smoke, consider the ex-Islay barrels, but any smoke notes are extremely faint. On the palate - Here the fruits are more forward, again with pears and hints of apples up front. Oak definitely shines through. Fresh, dry American oak, although quite subtle - likely due to the third use barrels. There is also a quite clear nuttiness - bitter almonds and chestnuts. A slight acidic tone compliments the green grassy notes that are there reminding me that I am indeed drinking Cachaça. Along with the grass comes a bit of the barnyard funk - a mix of hay and dusty horses. At 42%, this Cachaça is very soft. The finish is dry and medium in length, leaving you with a nice fruity finish that reminds me of fresh-pressed apple cider. A nicely rounded Cachaça with an interesting fruity profile. For me personally, I am missing a bit of the dirty Cachaça funk that I have learned to love. As well, I feel like all the subtle flavours could have benefited from a slightly higher abv. I would describe it as light and lovely.