
Sagatiba is a relatively modern cachaça brand compared to some of the smaller, artisanal producers in Brazil. It doesn't have the centuries-old family lineage of some other brands. However, it has played a significant role in popularizing cachaça internationally and has a distinct story of its own.
Here's a summary of Sagatiba's history and heritage:
- Founding and Focus on Quality: Sagatiba was founded in 2004 with a clear focus on producing high-quality cachaça and introducing it to a global audience. This marked a shift towards premiumization within the cachaça market.
- Modern Approach to Production: While respecting traditional methods, Sagatiba has also embraced modern technology and quality control in its production process. They use carefully selected sugarcane and controlled fermentation processes to ensure consistency and quality.
- Emphasis on the Caipirinha: Sagatiba has been instrumental in promoting the Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, worldwide. Their marketing and branding have often focused on this signature drink, helping to introduce cachaça to new markets.
- Global Expansion: Unlike many smaller cachaça producers who primarily focus on the domestic Brazilian market, Sagatiba has actively pursued international distribution and marketing. This has made it one of the more widely available cachaça brands globally.
- Acquisition by Campari Group: In 2011, Sagatiba was acquired by the Campari Group, a large Italian beverage company. This acquisition further expanded Sagatiba's distribution network and marketing reach.
Key Aspects of Sagatiba's Production:
- Sugarcane Selection: Sagatiba uses carefully selected sugarcane varieties grown in Brazil.
- Fermentation: They use a controlled fermentation process with selected yeasts to ensure consistent quality and flavor.
- Distillation: Sagatiba uses continuous column stills for distillation, which generally results in a lighter, smoother spirit compared to pot stills.
- Filtration: Sagatiba undergoes a multi-stage filtration process to further refine the spirit and remove impurities.
- Unaged Cachaça: Sagatiba primarily focuses on producing unaged (branca) cachaça, which highlights the fresh, grassy, and vegetal characteristics of the sugarcane.
In summary:
While Sagatiba doesn't have the deep historical roots of some traditional cachaça producers, it has contributed significantly to the global recognition of cachaça. Its focus on quality production, modern marketing, and promotion of the Caipirinha has helped establish cachaça as a key player in the international spirits market. It represents a more modern and globally oriented approach to cachaça production while still adhering to the core principles of using sugarcane as the base ingredient.

Sagatiba Pura is an unaged (branca) cachaça, meaning it's bottled shortly after distillation without any aging in wood. This gives it a very distinct profile that highlights the fresh sugarcane character. Here's a synopsis of its aroma, appearance, palate, and finish:
Appearance
- Clear and colourless: As an unaged spirit, Sagatiba Pura is crystal clear, resembling water or vodka in appearance.
Aroma
- Fresh and vegetal: The dominant aromas are those of fresh sugarcane, with grassy, herbaceous, and slightly vegetal notes.
- Subtle sweetness: There's a subtle underlying sweetness that comes from the sugarcane.
- Hints of green: Some might detect hints of green bell pepper or other green, vegetal aromas.
- Clean and bright: Overall, the aroma is clean, bright, and refreshing.
Palate
- Fresh sugarcane: The taste mirrors the aroma, with a prominent fresh sugarcane flavor.
- Green and grassy: The vegetal and grassy notes are also present on the palate, giving it a characteristic "cachaça" taste.
- Slightly sweet: The subtle sweetness balances the vegetal notes.
- Crisp and clean: It has a crisp and clean mouthfeel, with a slight prickliness or peppery sensation.
Finish
- Short to medium: The finish is relatively short to medium in length.
- Lingering sweetness and vegetal notes: The sweetness and grassy/vegetal notes linger briefly.
- Clean and refreshing: The finish is clean and refreshing, leaving a pleasant sensation on the palate.
Overall Impression
Sagatiba Pura is a quintessential unaged cachaça. It's designed to showcase the pure, unadulterated flavour of sugarcane. Its fresh, grassy, and slightly sweet profile makes it an ideal base for classic Brazilian cocktails like the Caipirinha, where its vibrant character shines through. It's not as complex or smooth as aged cachaças but is appreciated for its authentic and lively flavour.

Sagatiba Velha is an aged cachaça, meaning it spends time in oak barrels after distillation. This aging process significantly influences its aroma, appearance, palate, and finish, differentiating it from the unaged Sagatiba Pura.
Appearance
- Golden to amber: Unlike the clear Pura, Velha exhibits a golden to light amber colour, derived from the oak barrels it's aged in. The intensity of the colour can vary depending on the length of aging.
Aroma
- Woody and spicy: The aging process imparts distinct woody notes, such as vanilla, oak, and sometimes a hint of char.
- Sweet and aromatic: There are often sweet aromas of caramel, toffee, or brown sugar, along with subtle spices like cinnamon or clove.
- Reduced vegetal notes: The strong grassy and vegetal notes characteristic of unaged cachaça are significantly mellowed by the aging process.
Palate
- Smooth and mellow: Compared to the crispness of Pura, Velha has a smoother, more mellow mouthfeel.
- Caramel and vanilla: The oak aging contributes flavours of caramel, vanilla, and sometimes a touch of butterscotch.
- Spiced notes: Subtle spices like cinnamon, clove, or nutmeg may be present.
- Less vegetal: The vegetal notes are much more subdued, often integrated into the other flavours.
Finish
- Longer and smoother: The finish is generally longer and smoother than Pura's, with the oak and sweet spice notes lingering on the palate.
- Warm and pleasant: It leaves a warm and pleasant sensation.
Overall Impression
Sagatiba Velha offers a more refined and complex experience compared to its unaged counterpart. The oak aging softens the raw sugarcane notes, adding layers of sweetness, spice, and wood. It's a cachaça that can be enjoyed neat or in more sophisticated cocktails where its aged character can shine.