Cachaça Coqueiro

This distillery is located in Paraty, a Brazilian region recognized for Cachaça production, similar to Salinas and Abaíra. Paraty was the first to receive a Geographical Indication. The government's process for granting such designations is lengthy. Cachaça Coqueiro is made at Fazenda Cabral by the Mello family, who have been distilling in the area since 1803, using ancestral recipes and wild yeast fermentation. Eduardo Mello acquired the Coqueiro brand, established in 1940, in 1980. The spirit is aged in peanut and French oak, as well as stainless steel containers. It rests for six months in steel and six months in peanut wood, not Jequitibá as indicated by the distiller. This 44% ABV spirit is robust and best enjoyed neat, though suitable for cocktails. Its prominent alcohol notes overshadow the wood influence, with other sensory aspects barely perceptible. The aroma of solvent, enamel, or acetone suggests the presence of 'heads' from the distillation. The bottle lacks production year details. Information sourced from Cachaçaria Nacional and Mapa da Cachaça.