Last Night, the Chant Was 'Legalize Cachaca!'

rodrigosa.com

Leblon Cachaca hosted a "friendly" protest last night against the U.S.'s refusal to recognize the Brazilian sugar cane spirit cachaca as its own designation. The U.S. is the only country that forces cachaca makers to label their product "Brazilian Rum," which the distillers say is an outrage because what they make is actually quite different from rum. Both the fermentation and distillation processes differ from those used to make rum, and cachaca is said to predate the first rums made by a few decades. Last night, a petition was circulated around the High Bar Rooftop Lounge from 5-7 p.m., then around Agua Dulce from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and finally around Louis 649 from 9:30-midnight demanding that the U.S. change its policy or "Legalize Cachaca."

"Just like cognac, champagne, and tequila, cachaca has its own unique character, culture, and history," Naren Young, the head bartender at BOBO, said in a statement. "The Brazilians deserve to have their national spirit recognized by its national name: cachaca."