highlights
- From Brazil’s premiere cane field to aging in lightly aged cognac casks, learn the Leblon story
- “Mariposa” at Ortega120, Redondo Beach, CA
- Naren Young and Jacob Briars take you to Rio de Janeiro to discover the Carioca scene through the eyes of two bartending extraordinaires
- As one of the Latino all-Star Distillations, Cachaça is quickly being recognized as the hot new spirit in the US
- Debut single by Jinga Boogie captures love, passion and happiness, embodied in a Brazilian girl named Caipirinha
- Anyone can call themselves a bartender but only a few can call themselves a Mixologist. Ted Kilgore is one of the few who have this right and is recognized as one of the top ten trendsetting mixologists who uses Cachaça to broaden the palette of the public.
- Need a Muddler? Click here
welcome to leblon cachaça
Welcome to Leblon Cachaça. We created Leblon Cachaça for anyone who wants to discover this great new spirit at its best. Cachaça, the third most-consumed spirit in the world, is the key ingredient to the Caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink. Cachaça (ka-SHAH-sa) is made from fresh-pressed cane juice fermented and distilled, and can only come from Brazil. Many are proclaiming Cachaça as the ‘Next Tequila,’ with the Caipirinha (kai-pur-EEN-ya) as the new ‘Margarita.’ Muddled with fresh lime and sugar, the Caipirinha is something special - made with Leblon Cachaça, even more special.
We produce Leblon Cachaça at our distillery in Patos de Minas, in the heart of Minas Gerais, Brazil (think sugar cane fields). We combine traditional approaches with creative European winemaking techniques to create a Cachaça that is extra special. Gilles Merlet, famous master distiller from the Cognac region of France, takes Cachaça to a whole new level with his ‘French touch,’ transforming our distillery in Patos de Minas to the state-of-the-art Maison Leblon. Gilles produces small batches using alembique copper potstills, then polishes the Cachaça in XO Cognac Casks for an ultra-smooth taste. The Cachaça is then blended across batches for flavor complexity, body, and aroma.
If you are new to Cachaça, the Caipirinha, and for that matter Brazil - Bem Vindo! If you are a Cachaça connoisseur or bar chef, we invite you to taste and enjoy Leblon Cachaça - first neat, or with a twist of lime. Then we invite you to try it in a Caipirinha or one of your favorite creations. We hope you enjoy the final result. Saúde!
caipirinha of the month
Mariposa
Ortega120Redondo Beach, CA
- 1.5 oz Leblon
- .5 oz Peach Schnapps
- .5 oz Margarita mix
- Muddled mixed berries
- Served with 2 pieces of frozen peaches at the bottom
- Ortega120, a newly opened beachside restaurant serves its own Caipirinha de Fruta with frozen peaches and peach schnapps. It teams handily with Ortega120's modern Mexican cuisine, such as bite-size tacos de atún crudo with ahi tuna, jicama and mango salad, and ceviche de tilapia. "The fresh flavors go brilliantly with the clean fruity flavor of the drink," says owner Demi Stevens.
1814 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach. (310) 792-4120.
daily muddle
It was brought to our attention that Beverage Industry News had recently written a great
article on 10 Trendsetting Mixologists. One of these trendsetting mixologist was Ted Kilgore. Here
is an excerpt from one of our conversations with this creative mixologist.
How did you come up with the name, Blood & Samba?
The name and the drink Blood & Samba is a riff on the classic Blood & Sand cocktail. The original
Blood & Sand was made with equal parts scotch, cherry heering, sweet vermouth, and orange juice. I
traded out the scotch for cachaça, and voila! The Blood & Samba was born! It's a great way to get
people to try cachaça if they've never had it before, and I love having people try out new
cocktail experiences!
the press
As one of the Latino all-Star Distillations, Cachaca is quickly being recognized as the hot new spirit in the US along with its cocktail counterpart the Caipirinha. Renowned Bar Chef Naren Young provides an insight into the cachaça distillation and highlights Leblon Cachaça as one of the premier Cachacas in the category.
Cristiano Taluzzi says: “Using better quality cachaça allows me to play around with more flavors and use less sugar in the cocktails. Over the past few years, cachaça has gotten better, and the taste of sugarcane, as opposed to molasses (like most rums), is lighter and therefore can play better with various fruits"".
MAISON LEBLON
Leblon is distilled at our own state-of-the-art distillery, Maison Leblon, in Brazil’s fertile Minas Gerais region. Our approach to Cachaça is unique: Gilles Merlet, our master distiller, approaches the fermentation, distillation, and finishing of Cachaça like a fine wine. Using techniques from his native land of France, Gilles manages every detail of the creation; from the hand-selection of the cane and his proprietary fermentation approach, to the Alambique batch-distillation and light-casking, triple-filtering, and master-blending. Gilles rests the final distillate in XO Cognac casks from France, giving Leblon an extra-special touch. As a result, Leblon Cachaça has a delicate, fruity nose, combined with an ultra smooth finish.
go to leblon beach
Naren and Jacob Go To Leblon Beach
want to take a trip? ready for an adventure?
Naren Young and Jacob Briars take you to Rio de Janeiro to discover the Carioca scene through the eyes of two bartending extraordinaires. Directed by Francisco Aliwalas, the film explores the beaches, the bars, and the Brazilian Fruit Feiras. Learn about the culture of Cachaça and the Caipirinha, and experience what it’s like to hang-glide your entrance onto Leblon Beach - with a Caipirinha in hand.
The time is right for a dedicated cocktail show that spans the globe and teaches everyone – from novices to aficionados – how to make the perfect cocktail. Whether it’s a classic drink whose roots lie in the 18th or 19th centuries, or a modern twist on a classic theme, the Happy Hour is centered around the wonderful, intriguing and often complex world of bars and the sublime cocktails and mixed drinks that are served within their sacred confines.
Brazil meets America. Samba meets Soul.
Jinga (normally spelled Ginga) is the distinctive swagger that is the essence of the Brazilian spirit.
Jinga Boogie formed when Brazilian-born keyboardist Jamba got together with American percussionist Tom Armstrong to perform some improvised sets in New York. Later, Jamba and Tom started writing and producing songs that organically combined their respective cultures.
Set in the Heart of New York City, Brazil comes alive with the pursuit of love, passion and happiness, embodied in a Brazilian girl named Caipirinha.
Check out behind the scene photos and artists bios.