CACHAÇA IS OFFICIALLY CACHAÇA!

Congratulations to the Brazilian spirit cachaça.  The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has amended the rules related to the standardization of identity for distilled spirits to recognize cachaça as an official spirit that is distinctively produced in Brazil.  The final rule published in the Federal Register will be effective on April 11.  The rule also allows use of the previously approved labels for cachaça until August 26.  The Brazilians, by law, define cachaça as a distilled spirit made from the fermented must of sugar cane and having 38 to 48% ABV.  Because of the sugarcane connection, TTB has always classified cachaça as rum.  The Brazilians didn’t like that.  They lobbied successfully to have the spirit redefined, and won their case.  The US will now recognize cachaça as product of Brazil, and Brazil will recognize bourbon whiskey and Tennessee whiskey as products of the US.  Seems likes an even trade.