MELICANA AGUARDENTE DE MEL

The still is in the city of Bom Despacho, Minas Gerais. And this Melicana is very interesting, as the drink is registered with the Brazilian authorizing body and the back label informs that it is distilled from "fermented must of pure bee honey" (so no sugar cane). With the commercial name "Aguardente de Mel" (a kind of brandy of honey), the bottle costs around one hundred dollars (5 dollars a shot). After researching Brazilian legislation, the framing of this drink is peculiar, as the classifications for both distillates and spirits are based on products of vegetable origin (sugarcane, molasses, molasses, rapadura, vegetable, fruit, cereal) and the origin of honey is animal. The Brazilian government's solution to authorize the production and sale of this alcoholic beverage. is subject to specific authorization in accordance with the identity and quality standard and will depend on analysis and authorization from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. This ministry may refuse registration or cancel registration already granted for any of the products. The drink must necessarily contain vegetable, animal or mineral raw materials, responsible for its sensorial characteristics. Notes: Amber color, aromatic, honey, jammy fruit, vanilla, present sweetness, long finish.