Passoã

Bill Dowd photo

Sometimes a liqueur gets short shrift among tasting notes collections because they're not really at their best when consumed straight. But, when they work well in cocktails, they deserve special notice. This is one such product.

• Passoã: The Passion Drink

The label design, the Web site sales pitch, indeed the whole mood of Passoã screams Brazil and the Caribbean even if the spelling of "flavor" is the English style, "flavour." However, this 40-proof liqueur is a product of France and is imported by Remy Cointreau USA.

Origin aside, the passion fruit flavor base is bold and pleasing, an inviting tangy sweetness that immediately got me thinking about cocktail combinations.

The makers most often suggest orange or grapefruit juice, and even have added some infused versions to the product line -- cocõ (coconut), mango and anañas (pineapple). I decided to try it in an even more Brazilian mannner -- with cachaça. The result was excellent.

2 parts Boca Loca cachaça
1 part Passoã
Pineapple juice
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Half-fill a cocktail tumbler with fresh ice, pour cachaça and Passoã over the ice, top with pineapple juice, stir briskly to blend, garnish with a cherry and serve.

Suggested retail price: $17.99 for the 750ml bottle.

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