Colombina Jatobá

Distillery: Colombina

Location: Alvinópolis, Minas Gerais

Aged: Yes

Barrel-type: Jatobá, 3 years resting

ABV: 41.5%

I’ve danced around Colombina products for some time. Much of this had to do with its appearance. I heard good things, but let’s face it, the bottle is mediocre as is the label. To me, the woman looks like she’s dressed as a clown. Clowns creep me out. Why would I want to drink a cachaça with a clown on the label?

Well, I finally broke down and bought a bottle at the store-closing of Eu Amo Cachaça. This past weekend, I decided what the heck, maybe this isn’t Pennywise in a bottle.

And boy, was I right. Not all clowns are scary, murderous, blood thirsty creatures that hide in sewers.

Jatobá is such a fascinating, distinctive wood. It’s called the West Indian Locust and is found all through the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America.

The cachaça itself has a clear, pale appearance, with a very light lemon color. The nose is clean, with a medium intensity. What separates Jatobá is the spicy, zesty aroma. Yes, there is cane underneath this spirit, but it’s the spiciness that I find most appealing. It’s quite dry, with a smooth texture and medium intensity. Like the nose, I found the palate to be quite spicy, with a hint of cane, and a drop of lemon. The finish is quite smooth and moderately complex. Overall, this is a really, really good cachaça.

Forget the appearance, this one is exceptional. Reasonably priced, well-crafted, it’s a cachaça that deserves repeated tasting, and great praise. I’m down with Jatobá as of this moment. I suggest you try it, if you can. Rye? Mezcal or Tequila? Hints of those unique in this one. You’ll be surprised at the very distinctive character and flavor.