The Spirit Of South America

Down south, passion runs hot and the spirits birthed from these lands know how to turn heads and break hearts.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

In Bolivia, it’s all about singani. Close kin to pisco, another South American staple, it stands out for only using one grape: white Muscat of Alexandria. And it’s a completely homegrown spirit — the grapes are grown and picked in Bolivia, and the spirit is distilled, bottled, and labeled in Bolivia. It’s the country’s oldest liquor and marries floral, fruity, and spicy notes for a crazy unique flavor.

Over in Peru, it’s pisco that reigns supreme. This fermented grape juice is technically considered a brandy, and there are strict rules about aging it in wood barrels (basically, you can’t). It’s also the country’s official spirit, and like wine, the flavor profile is all over the place depending on the brand.

Down in Brazil, they’re just crazy about cachaça. A distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice, it’s earned many nicknames like abre-coração (heart-opener), bafo-de-tigre (tiger breath), and Brazilian rum. Chances are you’ve already tasted it if you’ve ever had a true Caipirinha, but there are as many ways to enjoy it as there are names for it.

In this Tasting BoxTM, you’ll be able to explore the spirits of South America — beyond tequila. Hell, you might even find a new favorite. Here’s your lineup:

Singani 63; Pisco Logia Acholado Small Batch No. 2; Abelha Organic Cachaça Ouro

And if you can’t be with the one you love, love the spirit you’re with. Salud!

Smartass Corner:

1) Cachaça has been around for over 400 years and it’s earned many-a-nickname during this time. There are over 2000 words to depict cachaça and some of them were coined during the period when it used to be banned in Brazil. The list includes but is not limited to: abre-coração (heart-opener), água-benta (holy water), bafo-de-tigre (tiger breath), limpa-olho (eye-wash), pinga and caninha.

2) While rum is usually made from molasses, cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice that’s fermented and distilled, similar to the rhum agricole from the French Caribbean. 

3) Bolivia has a rockin’ ecosystem. In fact, 40% of all animal and plant life on the planet can be found there.

4) Most Bolivians drink singani on the rocks with lime (or with ginger ale and lime), but the spirit can sub in for tequila in a wicked good Margarita.

5) One of the best ways to enjoy pisco? A Pisco Sour, naturally. Peru’s even dedicated a national day to the popular cocktail — the first Saturday of every February is the official Día del Pisco Sour (Pisco Sour Day). National Pisco Day falls on the fourth Saturday of July.

6) There’s a contentious battle over who has the bragging rights to pisco’s creation. Peru and Chile have fought over it for years, and the world is divided. While the U.S. is indifferent, the EU sides with Peru. That’s why when you drink pisco in the EU, you can be absolutely sure that it hails from Peru.