The distillery that produces Leblon artisanal cachaça (named after a famous Rio beach) is located in the middle of sugarcane fields, in the Brazilian highlands of Minas Gerais. The cane is cut by hand, then pressed to obtain a pure, fresh juice known as "Caldo de Cana". This pure cane juice is fermented for 15 hours, before being transferred to small copper pot-stills for distillation. The master distiller, a Frenchman with a background in Cognac, then pours the freshly distilled cachaça into Limousin oak casks that have previously contained Cognac. The cachaça remains in these barrels for up to 6 months, during which time it rests and acquires its silkiness. Once matured, the cachaça is blended and bottled on site.
Its production process makes it a premium artisanal cachaça, often awarded the title of the world's best cachaça. It is of course used in the composition of Caipirinha, the iconic Brazilian cocktail, but that's not all: its natural cane taste also leaves plenty of room for inspiration.
Nico's tasting notes
In brief: Cane - sweet and fresh - lime - pepper
The nose opens with a lovely, concrete, concentrated cane, immediately recognizable as artisanal cachaça. The nose invites you to a caipirinha, with its fresh notes of sweet, ripe lime. Like an agricultural rum, the cane is scented with pepper to evoke its sun-dried fiber, and the feeling of traditional eau-de-vie is reinforced by a touch of copper.
With aeration, the cane becomes more rustic and fermented, gaining in acidity as well as power. The lemon is now more candied and sweet, and the pepper more intense.
On the palate, the cane unfolds with the same aromas as on the nose. The impression is one of sweetness and naturalness, a lovely cane delicacy with aromas of lime and sweet pepper. In the roundness that coats the tongue, we're even charmed by the smoothness of the mango.
On the finish, pepper and bagasse give a relief that takes us straight to the middle of a Brazilian cane field...
"This cachaça won't drown in caipirinha, it has enough power to make a well-balanced cocktail..."
LP
Very good product