NV TBRC: Novo Fogo (Brazil), Batch 1, 3yo (41.2%)

Cachaça – Brazil’s national spirit – is similar to Rhum Agricole, however the sugarcane juice is fermented first. This example comes from a can’t-be-revealed distillery in the south of Brazil – zero-waste and certified organic. A blend of amburana casks and ex-Bourbon casks, a richly pronounced nose opens with a surprising earthiness; pine needles bringing an immediate aromatic quaility to this rum, before the more expected caramel and liquorice spice notes emerge. Blackcurrant jam on toast sets the tone for the palate along with a zip of fresh mango, while cardamom provides depth and complexity. The bold, almost viscous mouthfeel develops into a generous finish, led by a sticky honey, made less saccharine by an intense, almost oud-like spice.