Cachaça is a Brazilian spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. It is the key ingredient in the caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail. Cachaça can be categorized into two types: unaged (white) cachaça, which is usually bottled immediately after distillation and has a sharp, sweet flavor, and aged (gold) cachaça, which is stored in wood barrels and acquires a smoother, more complex taste.

As an ingredient in cocktails, cachaça is celebrated for its robust sugarcane flavor, which adds a grassy, earthy note to drinks. The most famous cocktail using cachaça, the caipirinha, is made by muddling lime and sugar together, then adding cachaça and ice. The spirit's versatility, however, extends beyond the caipirinha. It can be used in a variety of cocktails to impart a unique, rustic flavor that differentiates it from other sugarcane-based spirits like rum, making it a favored choice for bartenders looking to add a Brazilian twist to their creations.