Where do I purchase cachaça?

[applecore]

And is there a specific brand I should purchase or stay away from? Also, if you have a great caipirinha recipe you'd be nice enough to share, that would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

[Das Ubergeek]

OK, so here's the thing. I drank Pitu and never really understood the hype. Then I met streetgourmetla who, through his travels to Brazil, has become a real cachaceiro. The last time I drank Pitu, it tasted like swill.

Brands I like better:

Leblon is OK if you're going to mix it in frozen drinks called batidas (pronounced "bah-CHEE-dhas"). The cold temperature lessens the bitterness of the Leblon.

Ypioca is the best commonly-available cachça I've found. While I've had 51 and think it's good, it's not easy for me to find.

I did buy a bottle of Germana (excellent, excellent) at Beverage Warehouse in Marina del Rey after tasting it, but MdR is too far for me to drive on a regular basis. They have a large selection of cachaça. I've heard reports of the staff trying to downsell (WTF?) cachaça and steer people to cheaper, mass-marketed brands. I liken this to someone telling you you don't need premium tequila when Cuervo Gold is only $8.99 a fifth.

Caipirinhas are made by mashing a chunked-up lime (the juiciest one you can find) with a spoonful of sugar in a glass, adding ice, and pouring a healthy shot of good cachaça over the top. Garnish with a heaping helping of feijoada and drink.

[joshekg]

There's a decent discussion of cachaça here, including streetgourmetla recommending some brands. I purchase mine from Beverage Warehouse.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620976

[streetgourmetla]

This is great.The world just gained another cachaceiro! Yeah, don't listen to the BW staff, go informed and grab the good stuff.

As DU and joshekg, I go to Beverage Warehouse, but Bevmo and the like are reliable for Ypioca and 51.

[french roast]

Also, Top Line in Glendale/Loz Feliz area has it, and their prices are great.

[J.L.]

All BevMo's carry it. I like the Leblon brand.

[missyp]

I've bought it at the BevMo, specifically the one in West Hollywood. I've used Pitu for caipirinhas, and it's perfectly fine.

I made these non-traditional "Christmas caipirinhas" for two parties last year and they were very well received. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/dri...

[Harry Nile]

I believe I saw it at Wally's just before Thanksgiving, and it's listed on their Web site: www.wallywine.com . Hint: to find cachaça online you often have to change the spelling to cachaca.

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Wally's Wine & Spirits
2107 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

[goodhealthgourmet]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/615933