What MAPA Ordinance 539/2022 calls stored and aged, what each wood contributes and eight cachaças from the catalog
In cachaça, European and American oak share the barrels with Brazilian woods: amburana, bálsamo, ipê, jequitibá and, on IBRAC's list, also amendoim, freijó, castanheira and eucalyptus. Each leaves its own mark on color, aroma and flavor. Below: what the law calls stored and aged, what each wood contributes and eight cachaças from the catalog, by wood.
Since February 1, 2023, Ordinance No. 539 of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), of December 26, 2022, has been in force, revoking the old Normative Instruction No. 13 of 2005. Under it, cachaça is Brazilian sugarcane spirit with 38% to 48% alcohol at 20 °C. As for time in wood, the ordinance distinguishes two classes:
Aged: at least 50% of the volume aged in a wooden vessel of no more than 700 liters, for at least one year.
Stored: it has spent time in wood but does not meet one of these criteria, whether the size of the cask, the time or the proportion.
When the entire cachaça is aged, the label may carry two optional category terms: one for at least one year and another, the higher one, for at least three years. In blends, the declared age is that of the youngest cachaça. The name of the wood must appear on the label in letters the same size as the product name, and cachaça with wood fragments may not use any aging term.
What about silver and gold? According to MAPA's FAQ on the ordinance, Prata (silver), Ouro (gold), Clássica and Tradicional, terms that came from the 2005 rule, are established expressions and remain allowed on the label. They are not, however, aging classes: an "ouro" can be stored or aged, and only the technical sheet says which.
European oak: according to IBRAC, it is the wood most used for aging; it gives an amber color and notes of almond and toasted wood. American oak: golden color and aromas of vanilla and coconut, according to IBRAC. Amburana (or umburana): intense color and a strong aromatic bouquet, with fruit and light spice (IBRAC); Mapa da Cachaça mentions vanilla, clove and cinnamon and notes that, being resinous, it calls for less time in barrel. Bálsamo: greenish-yellow color, intense herbal aroma and a slightly peppery taste (IBRAC); Mapa da Cachaça cites anise and clove and points to the tradition of Salinas, in northern Minas Gerais. Ipê: dark amber color, leaning toward orange (IBRAC), and, when well toasted, walnut and nut flavors (Mapa da Cachaça). Jequitibá: according to IBRAC, it imparts almost imperceptible flavor and aroma and a pale color.
Cachaças from the catalog whose sheet declares the wood, one or two per wood, with a price when they appeared in the stores surveyed. Flavor from the catalog pyramid; medals, those the producer lists.
From Weber Haus, of Ivoti (RS), it rests for one year in 700-liter amburana casks with a medium toast, according to Mapa da Cachaça; the label calls it organic stored cachaça. The pyramid shows dark caramel, cocoa, vanilla and almond on top, cardamom and coconut on the palate, black pepper on the finish. The house lists golds at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and recommends it neat or in a caipirinha.
From Salinas (MG), it spends two and a half years in umburana casks, another name for amburana. In the pyramid, vanilla and old wood on top; vanilla, almond and cinnamon on the finish. The brand cites four consecutive golds at the Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, from 2020 to 2023, and suggests it neat, chilled or in a caipirinha.
From the Minas Gerais town with a Geographical Indication from INPI since 2012, it spends three years in bálsamo casks. With no published pyramid, it has sweetness 3.5 and body 5.5 in the catalog profile, on a 0 to 10 scale. The house suggests it with snacks, broths and seafood. From the same town, Boazinha spends two and a half years in bálsamo.
Organic sugarcane and one year in bálsamo barrels; the label classifies it as aged. The pyramid follows what the sources attribute to the wood: fennel on top, clove, almond and old wood on the palate. The house lists the Grand Gold Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Brazil edition, in 2017, and suggests it neat or in an Old Fashioned.
The cachaça in the straw-wrapped bottle, from Nova União (MG), ages for two years in oak, according to the official website; Cachaçaria Nacional details one year in French oak and another in bálsamo. The pyramid shows old wood on top and cocoa and black pepper on the palate.
A blend of cachaças aged in oak, some of them then stored in bálsamo, with caramel coloring. In the pyramid, vanilla, molasses and brown sugar on top; dark caramel, old wood and black pepper on the palate. The back label suggests drinking it chilled in the freezer, with snacks.
Pot-still cachaça from the state of Rio de Janeiro that rests for at least one year in ipê casks, with a slightly yellowish color. The pyramid shows tropical fruit, sugarcane and honey on top. The brand recommends it for citrus drinks, especially the caipirinha. More affordable, Ypióca Ouro combines cachaças stored in bálsamo, grápia and ipê, according to Diageo: R$ 28.90 to R$ 35.80 (965 ml, Sept/2026).
Several woods in a single glass: each fraction spends two years in one of seven woods (French and American oak, amburana, bálsamo, canela-sassafrás, cabriúva and grápia) before the parts are brought together. The pyramid shows white chocolate, black pepper, apricot and pineapple. The house suggests it neat, at room temperature.
Shelf prices surveyed on 09/24/2026 at Divvino, Zona Sul, Bistek, Savegnago and Giassi; they change over time and from store to store.
Drink responsibly.
Sources: MAPA Ordinance No. 539 of December 26, 2022, and the Ministry of Agriculture's FAQ on the ordinance; IBRAC (Instituto Brasileiro da Cachaça), "Cachaça e Madeiras"; Mapa da Cachaça, "Madeiras para envelhecimento da cachaça", by Felipe Jannuzzi (05/24/2023); sheets and pyramids from the Bebidário catalog, based on Weber Haus, Seleta, Salinas, Germana, Ypióca (Diageo) and Magnífica; sources consulted on 09/24/2026; shelf prices surveyed on 09/24/2026 at Divvino, Zona Sul, Bistek, Savegnago and Giassi.
