Time to try ZECA de Matos Cachaça!!

ZECA de Matos is a fourth-generation family business and is 100 percent owned by the Matos family. The family moved from Portugal to the south-east of Brazil in 1891, where they have their own sugar cane plantation in the Minas Gerais region. Premium ZECA de Matos cachaça is distilled, aged and bottled at the estate in Brazil. They use artisanal methods and always try to keep the production as ‘green’ as possible.

Their estate is protected by Tamandula, who visits the sugar cane plantation overnight, eating away all the insects and bugs. At the distillery, they appreciate the work of this anteater so much they have included him on their ZECA logo.

ZECA de Matos is distilled in copper alembic stills and matured for one year in Brazilian mahogany barrels. The finished cachaça is rich and complex in flavour. It has green apple, grass, exotic fruit, vanilla and peppery notes, making it slightly sweeter and fruitier than most cachaças.

But what is cachaça?

Cachaça is distilled from sugar cane, like rum. However, most good-quality cachaça is made not from the molasses but from fermented sugar cane juices. As always, there are some exceptions to the rule, and some industrial brands use cane syrup or molasses instead of juice.

Cachaça is exclusively made in Brazil and it is distilled up to 75 percent alcoholic strength, when most rums would be 96 percent. The lower strength makes cachaça less refined, and the sugar cane flavour will be stronger. You can have unaged or aged cachaça, but to be considered aged, at least 50 percent of the liquor must be aged for a minimum of one year. Most cachaça is clear, but a little caramel may be used to add colour.

Marcos Matos Figueiredo, the owner of the estate, is living in London, where he launched ZECA de Matos in May this year. If you haven’t come across it yet, now is your chance to do so. I have teamed up with Marcos to get you a chance to WIN a bottle of handcrafted ZECA de Matos cachaça!

Simply follow the steps below to enter!

1. Share this post on social media

2. Follow On the Sauce Again on Twitter or Facebook

3. Answer one simple question: What is the national cocktail of Brazil?

Competition ends 8th December 2016.  Good luck!