Sanhaçu and Eu Amo Cachaça Present a Bold Balsamo

Distillery: Sanhaçu

Location: Cha Grande, Pernambuco

Aged: Yes

Type of wood: Balsamo

ABV: 47%

Just before the end of 2020, my friend Marcel Rates announced a new launch with the outstanding distillery Sanhaçu. This launch was special because only 365 total bottles would be released, one for each day of the year.

Well, let’s just say I decided I had to have one. I bought it without really knowing what I was buying. I think I saw that it was Balsamo-aged, but I don’t quite recall. Anything that has a limited production run is worth the investment, right?

Besides the order, I had to choose the particular date on the bottle. Yes, each bottle has its own date. That doesn’t mean it’s the date you receive the bottle, merely that, well, maybe you’re supposed to consume it on that date? That’s what I determined I would do.

I picked up the bottle a couple of weeks ago and decided to hold on to it. February 26, the date on the bottle, is my mother-in-law’s birthday. Now, she’s no great cachaça lover, but I thought she might enjoy a sip of it.

Like a lot of cachaças from the Northeast, this spirit is strong. At 47%, one wouldn’t want to sip on it all day long. And the Balsamo, let’s just say it’s not for the weak-hearted. For those who love anise, you will love this spirit. For those who despise it, well, you’re lucky you don’t have it.

My first taste was just after I opened the bottle, so I’m interested to see how it evolves over the next week or two. With a very strong yellow color, the cachaça looks like it could have been aged in a number of woods. But the nose blows that cover. The balsam is strong, with a few hints of cane and fruit underneath. The palate is much the same. For the bold, this is a great cachaça. For the meek, it would be easy to brush this one off.

After learning my lesson, allowing a cachaça to blossom, I’m going to reserve judgment. I liked it, but I wouldn’t say I loved it. Especially not for the price. Regardless, if you’ve got a bit of daring in you, you’re going to want to find someone who has this bottle in their collection. Given the success thus far, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did this next year as well.