Ready for a quick sojourn to Brazil? Well, pack your bags because the Rabo de Galo is the perfect excuse to take the trip.
Literally translated as “tail of the rooster” (i.e. “cock” “tail”), the Rabo de Galo is one of Brazil’s best known drinks, famous for its beautifully balanced cachaça base, sweet vermouth and herbaceous Cynar notes. For those thinking “cacha-what?”, cachaça, also called caninha, 'little cane', or often translated as 'cane firewater', is a clear-spirit rum relative, distilled directly from the juice of sugar cane.
Embodying the country's love for their native spirit, cachaça (pronounced ka-shah-sah), the Rabo de Galo was born in the mid-1950s following the opening of a Cinzano factory in Brazil’s Sao Paulo. Playfully combining their local “firewater” and the popular sweet vermouth, the drink originated as a shot served at dive bars. While the ratios differ greatly between regions, the drink encapsulated the newly introduced concept of drinking in Brazil, mixing alcoholic bases in the same glass and calling it a “cocktail”... literally.
Simple yet flavourful, the Rabo de Galo is often touted as the Martini's worthy adversary, a South American twist on the global icon. Sure, there's a Brazilian Martini out there, but, perhaps controversially, we reckon this guy is far worthier of the throne – the Rabo de Galo is the real deal.
