🥃 Grogue

Grogue, also spelled grogu or grog, is the traditional sugar cane spirit of Cape Verde. Decree-Law No. 11/2015 of 12 February 2015 reserves the name for cane spirit made in Cape Verde by distilling naturally fermented cane must, at 38–54% ABV at 20 °C and with its own sensory character.

How it is made. Under the decree, the cane juice (must) is pressed in a trapiche mill, filtered and fermented only naturally; adding anything to speed up fermentation is banned, and fermentation may not last more than 15 days. The still must be made of copper, or of copper with a stainless steel condenser. The first fraction (head) and the last (tail) are kept out of the spirit meant for drinking. Cane may be processed only from 1 January to 31 May, extendable by up to two months in exceptional cases. The pressed residue (bagasse) may be used as fuel or animal feed.

Ageing and labelling. Spirit aged in wooden containers for at least 12 months may be sold as 'aguardente velha' (old spirit). The sale names grogu, grog and grogue are allowed only for spirit made solely from cane must with nothing else added to it; the finished spirit may be flavoured with herbs, roots or fruit if the label says so. The label must show the strength, the producer, the lot and the place of origin, and a registered designation of origin may be added.

Why this matters to you. Look for the sale name and the place of origin on the label. Grogue is a strong spirit: the WHO states that there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health.