Cachaça

Brazil’s national booze is cachaça.

Originally a slave’s drink, cachaça is made by distilling cane sugar molasses. Because of this, it is usually classified as a type of rum, although to my mind its roots are more reminiscent of the fire-waters made from grape dregs in wine-producing countries, the most famous of which is probably Italy’s Grappa. Or tequila.

It is not a sipping spirit and is usually served in one of Brazil’s hot-weather cocktails, most notably the Caipirinha.