Cachaça is Brazil’s famous national spirit that is made from distilled sugarcane juice. It has a bold and flavorful taste, and is a key ingredient in caipirinha cocktails. While cachaça is commonly served chilled, especially in cocktails, there is some debate around whether it should be refrigerated or not. Here we’ll look at the pros and cons of refrigerating cachaça to help you decide if you should keep yours in the fridge or not.
What is cachaça?
Cachaça (pronounced ka-SHA-sa) is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugarcane juice. Also known as pinga, Brazilian rum, or Brazilian sugarcane spirit, it originated in the 16th century in Portuguese colonies in Brazil. It is Brazil’s most popular distilled spirit and one of the most popular liquors overall in the country.
Cachaça is made by fermenting and distilling fresh sugarcane juice. The juice is fermented for 24 to 48 hours, resulting in a fermented sugarcane beer called garapo. This garapo is then double distilled in copper pot stills, resulting in cachaça.
The best quality cachaças are bottled right after distillation. Lower quality industrial cachaças may be aged in barrels or vats made of wood, stainless steel, or concrete to mature before bottling. However, aging is not required for cachaça under Brazilian law.
Cachaça typically ranges from 38% to 48% alcohol by volume (ABV). It has a characteristic earthy and grassy flavor with some sweetness. The taste can vary quite a bit between different brands and styles.
Is cachaça meant to be chilled?
Traditionally, cachaça is meant to be consumed chilled. In Brazil, it is very common to drink cachaça neat and chilled rather than using it in cocktails. The chill helps open up the aromas and prevents the high alcohol content from being overpowering.
Chilling cachaça to around 10°C or 50°F helps highlight its refreshing grassy and herbal notes. If it is served too warm, the alcohol taste can be harsh and dominate over the more delicate flavors.
Of course, the most famous way to consume cachaça worldwide is in caipirinha cocktails. Caipirinhas are always made with chilled cachaça to make them crisp and refreshing.
So while chilling is not an absolute must, it is highly recommended with cachaça to get the optimal flavor and experience.
Should you refrigerate cachaça?
Since cachaça is traditionally meant to be chilled, refrigeration helps get it to the proper serving temperature. But there are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to refrigerate cachaça:
Pros of refrigerating cachaça
- Keeps it chilled – Refrigerating cachaça ensures it stays chilled to the ideal serving temperature.
- Prevents degradation – Light and heat can cause liquors to degrade and lose quality over time. Refrigeration helps slow this process.
- Convenient – Having it refrigerated makes it easy to pull out and make chilled caipirinhas or enjoy neat pours.
Cons of refrigerating cachaça
- Can dull flavors – Extreme cold from the refrigerator can make flavors less expressive. The ideal is around 50°F.
- Risks freezing – If stored in the freezer compartment, cachaça can freeze and ruin the bottle.
- Uses up refrigerator space – Bottles take up valuable real estate in the refrigerator.
- Condensation when opening – Moisture in the fridge can cause condensation on the bottle when opened.
Tips for refrigerating cachaça
If you do decide to refrigerate your cachaça, here are some tips for doing it properly:
- Store in refrigerator, not freezer – Make sure bottles go in the main refrigerator compartment, not the freezer. Freezing will ruin the liquor.
- Control temperature – Ideally keep refrigerated cachaça around 45-50°F. Colder than that can dull the flavor.
- Let it warm up before drinking – Take the bottle out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before serving to take the chill off.
- Use freezer packs – For temporary chilling, use reusable freezer packs instead of the refrigerator.
- Try half bottles – Smaller bottles take up less space and won’t get opened as frequently.
- Recycle the box – Use the original liquor box to prevent light exposure in the refrigerator.
How long does cachaça last refrigerated?
Properly stored in the refrigerator, an unopened bottle of cachaça will generally last 1-2 years before quality starts to decline. Once opened, an aged cachaça can last around 6 months refrigerated, while unaged varieties may start deteriorating within 3-4 months.
Signs that refrigerated cachaça has gone bad include:
- Foul, chemical smell
- Cloudy appearance
- Change in color
- Off tastes like cardboard or rotten fruit
As long as it is kept chilled and the bottle is tightly sealed, cachaça can maintain its quality and flavor for quite a while in the refrigerator.
How to store cachaça without refrigerating
While refrigeration is best for chilled cachaça, it’s understandable if you don’t have the space to keep bottles in the fridge long term. Here are some tips for properly storing cachaça without refrigerating:
- Keep bottles upright and tightly sealed – This prevents oxidation and evaporation.
- Store in a cool, dark place – Avoid heat and light exposure which can accelerate degradation.
- Use amber-colored bottles – These help block UV light while clear bottles don’t.
- Consider smaller bottles – Once opened, cachaça won’t last as long. Smaller bottles prevent waste.
- Use a wine preserver – Vacuum pump preservers remove oxygen from opened bottles.
With proper storage methods, an unopened bottle of cachaça can last for many years without refrigeration. But once opened, it’s best to finish it within 6 months to a year.
Signs your unrefrigerated cachaça has gone bad
If you store cachaça at room temperature, keep an eye out for these signs that it may have deteriorated:
- Change in color – Cachaça can darken with age but should not become cloudy.
- Off aromas – Old cachaça smells like nail polish remover, rotten fruit or stale beer.
- Loss of flavor – It will taste flat, bitter, or acidic instead of fruity and grassy.
- Evaporation – If the bottle level is lower than it used to be, it’s a red flag.
- Crystallization – Sugars and sediment crystallizing at the bottom mean it’s gone off.
Taste a small amount if you notice any of these signs to confirm if your cachaça has gone bad before continuing to drink it.
Frequently asked questions
Should you store cachaça in the freezer?
No, storing cachaça in the freezer is not recommended. The freezing temperatures can cause the liquor to freeze and expand, damaging the bottle. This can also irreversibly ruin the flavor.
Is it necessary to refrigerate cachaça after opening?
It is highly recommended to refrigerate cachaça after opening to maximize its shelf life. Unrefrigerated, an opened bottle generally lasts 6 months to a year before degrading in quality.
How long does cachaça last unrefrigerated?
An unopened bottle of cachaça can last for many years when properly stored in a cool, dark place. Opened cachaça will last around 6 months to a year at room temperature before quality decline.
What’s the best way to chill cachaça without refrigerating?
If you don’t want to refrigerate long term, the best way to chill cachaça is using ice, freezer packs, or chilling the bottle for a couple hours in the freezer (taking care not to freeze). An ice bucket with water and ice is perfect for chilling right before serving.
Is it safe to drink cachaça that wasn’t refrigerated?
If stored properly, unrefrigerated cachaça is safe to drink but may have degraded in quality and flavor over time. Evaluate the appearance, aroma, and taste before consuming to check if it has gone bad.
The bottom line
Cachaça is traditionally served chilled, so refrigeration is the best way to keep it ready to drink and maintain quality. But refrigeration is not strictly necessary. With proper storage methods, cachaça can last for years at room temperature without going bad. Just be aware that flavor and aroma may decline over time without refrigeration, especially once the bottle is opened. Check for signs of spoilage before drinking if the cachaça was not refrigerated. Enjoy this iconic Brazilian spirit chilled or at room temperature – just be sure to consume it within a year or two for the best quality and taste.
