Brazilian spirit Cachaca may go global

Cachaca, a national treasure in Brazil and the world's fourth most-produced distilled spirit, is little known abroad, except as an ingredient in popular cocktails like caipirinhas. But that could soon change now that the United States recognizes the sugar cane liquor as a distinctive Brazilian product, a move that has raised hopes of a major increase in sales to the world's biggest spirits market.

The US approval, meaning producers can drop the 'Brazilian rum' label, brought cheers from the Brazilian Cachaca Institute (Ibrac), which said the move puts the spirit on a par with champagne and tequila.

"This will give an incentive to boost investments in expanded marketing of our cachaca abroad for the long term," institute president Vicente Bastos said.