TESOURO DA CASA CRISTAL

The appellation "Tesouro da Casa Geraldo" aptly describes this line of Cachaças from Minas Gerais. Formerly known as "Cachaça do Luiz Carlos Marcon" in Andradas, Minas Gerais, it embodied the essence of authentic cachaça from traditional mills, representing over 300 years of transforming sugar cane into a vibrant, aromatic spirit that resembles a work of art. The unique qualities of each cachaça are integrated throughout its creation, from selecting the sugar cane variety and determining the optimal harvest period, to the milling, ingredient choices, fermentation duration, distillation technique, and the barrels used for aging. The "Tesouro da Casa Cristal" stands out due to the wood employed for maturation: peanuts. This endangered and now scarce wood, still found in certain states like Minas Gerais, imparts distinctive characteristics to the aging process. It enhances and showcases the inherent virtues and soul of the spirit, subtly reducing the acidity and alcohol content while preserving its integrity and giving the drink a pale yellow hue. This wood retains the freshness and aroma of the sugar cane. The label incorrectly states that the distillate matures for 12 years in barrels made from Brazilian wood called "peanut" (not chestnut). However, this wood, despite being neutral, would typically impart color after 12 years of contact, which did not occur. Moreover, the label indicates the cachaça is merely "rested" in wood rather than "aged." Nevertheless, it is a commendable cachaça: well-balanced, smooth, mellow, with good acidity, elegance, and notes of sugar cane, floral touches, herbal nuances, fruitiness, citrus, and vegetal elements. Source: Casa Geraldo website.