Just a few hours south of bustling Rio de Janeiro is the sleepy colonial town of Paraty, Brazil, with a long history of distilling cachaça.
Nestled between towering tropical mountains and the crazy emerald-blue waters of Brazil’s Verde Coast, Paraty is one of Brazil’s most picturesque places to explore and offers visitors a variety of adventurous and cultural things to do!
Paraty has a rich history. In the 17th century, the Portuguese founded it as a port city to facilitate Brazil’s gold rush. A road called the Caminho do Ouro, or “Gold Trail,” connected Paraty to towns like Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais.
Paraty’s other claim to fame is artisanal Cachaça.
Cachaça is Brazil’s national liquor and the most important ingredient in the country’s beloved drink, the Caipirinha.
Cachaça from Paraty
Paraty is a leading producer of artisanal cachaça in Brazil. It has grown and distilled sugar cane to produce cachaça since the 17th century.
Touring, tasting, and learning about the history of cachaça production in Paraty is a must-do while in town. There are several producers of cachaça (locally referred to as Alambiques) in Paraty that you can visit.
This article will provide more information about cachaça tourism in Paraty and how to plan your visits to the unique Alambiques of Paraty.
What is Cachaça
Cachaça is a liquor made by fermenting and distilling raw sugarcane juice.
Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane in the world. Sugarcane was introduced when the Portuguese first colonized Brazil in the 16th century. Sugarcane mills or engenhos process the plant to produce raw sugar.
Although the sugarcane industry thrived the most in northeastern Brazil, the crop was also cultivated in Paraty during colonial times.
African slaves were the main workforce behind the cultivation, transportation, and processing of sugarcane in Brazil.
They were also the first producers and consumers of the cachaça liquor.
Sugar cane mills or engenhos
What is the difference between rum and cachaça?
Both spirits are made from the sugarcane plant, but rum is produced from byproducts such as molasses, giving it a sweeter flavor.
Cachaça, on the other hand, is only distilled from raw sugarcane.
Types of Cachaça
In Brazil, cachaça has hundreds of nicknames.
Some you might commonly hear are pinga (derived from the dripping or “pinga” of sugarcane juice in a mill), aguardente (brandy), caninha (little “cana” or cane), branquinha (little white), and água benta (holy water).
Popular types of cachaça, from the purest and lightest to darkest and longest barrel-aged, include:
- Cachaça branca (white, think 51 Cachaça brand)
- Cachaça prata (silver, most common in the US right now is Leblon Cachaça)
- Cachaça Amarela (gold)
- Cachaça Envelhecida (aged)
- Cachaça de Alambique (produced using a copper still like in Paraty)
Cachaça is commonly served in the Caipirinha cocktail, mixed with lime juice, sugar, and ice. Another popular drink is the Macunaíma, which is mixed with lemon juice and fernet branca.
What is an Alambique
An alambique is a traditional distillation apparatus made of copper or stainless steel vessels, used to distill fermented cane sugar into cachaça.
Using an alambique is considered an artisanal and slower method of distilling cachaça. In Paraty, “alambique” refers to the distillation method AND the production site or the cachaçaria itself.
In the mid-18th century, there were once 100 alambiques in Paraty. These alambiques were known for their high-quality cachaça throughout Brazil.
Today, just a handful are still operating and welcoming visitors to try their spirit. To be a certified alambique in Paraty, the alambique must grow sugarcane on the property.
Alambiques in Paraty
The 5 best alambiques to visit in Paraty today include:
- Alambique Maria Izabel: Open daily 10:30-5 pm, with the last tour at 4 pm. R$10 for the tour and tasting.
- Alambique Pedra Branca: Open daily 9:30-5 pm. Free tours.
- Alambique Paratiana: Open daily 9:30-5 pm. Free tours.
- Alambique Coqueiro: Open daily, 9-6 pm except on Wednesdays
- Engenho D’Ouro: Open daily, 8:30-6 pm
How to plan your visits to the Alambiques
It is easy to organize your visits to the Alambiques in Paraty. Several can be visited in just a single afternoon.
You will need transportation to the Alambiques as they are not within walking distance from the historic town center. The best options are to use your vehicle, set up transportation with a local taxi driver, or visit as part of a pre-arranged group tour.
If your group has no designated driver, inquire with your hotel about arranging a taxi to take you to one or more Alambiques. Plan to pay a couple hundred reais or around $50 if you use a taxi. I recommend scheduling the taxi at least a few hours in advance.
Brazil has a zero-tolerance drinking and driving law. It is not uncommon for police to set up a blitz or DUI checkpoints around the entrance to Paraty’s historic city center.
What to expect during the tour
Plan to spend 15 to 45 minutes at each Alambique. Some tours and tastings are longer than others.
During the tours, you will be guided around the Alambique property, learn about its history, discover what sets its processes or styles apart from others, and have the chance to sample a variety of cachaças.
If you’d like an English-language tour of Alambique, send a WhatsApp message before your visit to request this accommodation. You can also choose to only visit the Alambique store and skip the tour and tastings.
How to organize your visit
Alambique Pedra Branca, Alambique Paratiana, and Engenho D’Ouro are all located close to each other and can be visited one after another.
Alambique Coqueiro is located between Paraty and Trinidade. If you visit Trinidade Beach or hike to Pico do Pão do Açucar, you can easily stop by Alambique Coqueiro during the drive to or from Paraty.
Alambique Maria Izabel is found on the coast, 15 minutes north of Paraty.
Depending on your interest in learning about cachaça distilling and production in Paraty, I recommend touring at least one or two alambiques. Visiting more than two may feel repetitive for the casual tourist.
However, I suggest stopping by the properties and participating in tastings at as many alambiques as your itinerary permits! Almost all give free tastings.
My favorite Alambiques to tour in Paraty are Alambique Coqueiro and Alambique Paratiana.
Group tours to Alambiques
Tour companies like Jango Tours offer group visits to the alambiques, including transportation and stops at waterfalls near Alambique Pedra Branca, Alambique Paratiana, and Engenho D’Ouro.
This is a good option for visitors who do not have a car and are keen to check out more of Paraty’s lush natural surroundings.
What to Buy at the Alambiques
Well some Cachaça, of course! All of the alambiques have sprawling storefronts on site where you can browse their bottled artisan cachaças. Some of the cachaça labels are very fun and creative.
In addition to cachaça products, alambiques sell branded apparel, glassware, and accessories.
If you’re a fan of flavored spirits, Paraty’s Alambiques features a wide range of flavored cachaças. My personal favorite is the coconut cachaça from Alambique Coqueiros.
Although none of the alambiques are located in Paraty’s historic center, many have storefronts there where you can taste and purchase cachaça, along with other souvenirs from the alambiques.
Gabriela Cachaça
Gabriela is one of the most popular types of cachaça in Paraty to bring home. Gabriela is a fine liquor made with cachaça, clover, and cinnamon. It is commonly enjoyed as an aperitif or in the local favorite “Jorge Amado” cocktail.
Gabriela Cachaça’s history starts with Paraty being the chosen location to film Jorge Amado’s book “Gabriela.” Jorge Amado is one of Brazil’s most famous authors. In honor of the film’s connection to Paraty’s residents and alambiques, the Gabriela Cachaça was born.
Alongside Gabriela Cachaça, the “Jorge Amado” cocktail became a town favorite. This refreshing drink is made with Gabriela Cachaça, passion fruit (maracujá), and lime.
Paraty’s Annual Cachaça Festival
If you’re a cachaça enthusiast or just happen to be planning a trip to Paraty in August, you may have the opportunity to attend Paraty’s annual cachaça festival.
Since 1983, Paraty has hosted the “Festival da Cachaça, Cultura e Sabores de Paraty.” every August. The festival showcases and celebrates Paraty’s rich cachaça and gastronomic history.
The event takes place under an enormous tent just over the Pontal Bridge. Entry into the tent is free and party-goers may bring outside food and drinks. You will see families with full coolers.
At the festival, all the local Alambiques have large bars that provide tasters and sell cachaça shots, cachaça mixed drinks, and bottles of cachaça.
Throughout the evening and night, there are musical acts, bands, and DJs keeping the party going.
If you’re visiting Paraty during the cachaça festival, I suggest avoiding staying too close to the Pontal Bridge, near the event tent. The festivities, including music, continue well after 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and the sound can be heard even a few blocks away.
The 2025 Cachaça Festival will be held August 14-17th.
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