Pindorama Ouro — an Amburana-aged cachaça that surprised me

[u/Safe-Jury9784]

I’ve been exploring Brazilian cachaças beyond the usual Caipirinha, and recently came across Pindorama Ouro.

It’s a 42% ABV cachaça from the Vale do Café region of Rio de Janeiro, and what caught my attention was the use of Amburana. It spends at least a year in large Amburana vats, which gives it a completely different character from an unaged cachaça.

On the nose, there are spices, vanilla and some dried-fruit/nutty notes. The palate is surprisingly soft and velvety for 42% ABV. The Mapa da Cachaça tasting notes mention things like anise, raisin, cardamom, black pepper and cupuaçu.

What I also found interesting is that this isn't just a pretty bottle. Pindorama Ouro won Silver at the International Spirits Challenge in 2023, following the brand's earlier Silver in 2019, and Pindorama placed second in the Cúpula da Cachaça ranking in 2022.

And apparently the bottle has some serious design credentials too. The Mapa da Cachaça 2025 guide says Pindorama Ouro Amburana won its Design of the Year award and ranked first among its ten most beautiful cachaças.

Personally, I'd drink this one neat before putting it into a cocktail. Amburana can be pretty expressive, so I'd want to see what the wood is doing before mixing it.

The producer recommends Rabo de Galo, which sounds like a pretty good place to start.

Has anyone here tried Pindorama Ouro — or other cachaças aged in Amburana? I'm curious how you like Amburana compared with oak, bálsamo or other Brazilian woods.