Most people know how important it is to experience as much of the real culture of a foreign country when visiting — the food, the entertainment, the shopping and, of course, the drinks. Though rather uncommon in the United States, the Brazilian alcohol cachaça is actually one the most popular alcohols in the world. According to a study at American University, cachaça is the third most popular alcohol in the world after vodka and soju (a Korean alcohol).

According to a 2007 USA Today article, Brazilians consume 396 million gallons of cachaça a year; another almost four million gallons are consumed outside of Brazil, including a fast-growing market in the U.S.

According to the person who answered the phone at Northside Wine and Spirits, that store does not carry cachaça; Triphammer Wine and Spirits in Cayuga Heights does sell the Pitu brand for $14.99 a liter and a higher shelf Pitu Gold for $26.99 a liter.

Cachaça, which is made from the fermented juice of unrefined sugarcane, can be drank in a number of ways and is sometimes sipped straight.

Caipirinha: the national drink of Brazil
1 2/3 ounces cachaça
½ lime, cut into wedges
2 teaspoons sugar
Mash lime and sugar in a glass (ideally with a wooden spoon). Fill glass with crushed ice and add cachaça.

Batida
2 parts cachaça
1 part fruit juice or coconut milk
1 tablespoons sugar
Optional splash of condensed milk

Mix ingredients together in a chilled glass.
This drink could obviously be varied in many ways, but these are the basic ingredients used.

With the growing popularity of the alcohol, bartenders have been experimenting with new drinks made from cachaça.

Cacharita
1-1/2 ounces cachaça
1-1/2 ounces triple sec
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
Put ingredients in cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a chilled glass.