International Cachaça Day

International Cachaça Day celebrates cachaça, a Brazilian distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. Cachaça is sometimes compared with rum, but the two are distinct: cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice, while rum is typically made from molasses. The spirit is also the key ingredient in Brazil’s signature cocktail, the caipirinha.

The holiday is observed annually on June 12, although accounts differ about the meaning of the date. One explanation connects it to June 12, 1744, when Portuguese colonial authorities in Brazil reportedly outlawed the production and sale of cachaça. That story may be apocryphal, however, and another account links the international observance to the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in São Paulo, when cachaça gained global attention. International Cachaça Day should not be confused with Brazil’s National Cachaça Day on September 13. PBS SoCal discusses the uncertainty surrounding the 1744 account, while Difford’s Guide notes that the international observance appears to have started in the United States.

How to Observe International Cachaça Day

Celebrate by learning more about cachaça and how it differs from rum, or try it in a caipirinha, made with cachaça, lime, and sugar. You can also sample cachaça on its own or explore other cocktails that use it as a base. If you choose to drink, do so responsibly and never drink and drive.

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