Olie Berlic

Olie Berlic is the passion-driven North American authority on cachaça. Six years researching and tasting over 800, his credibility has been confirmed in such publications as USA Today, Forbes, Esquire and the NY Times. An author, award-winning sommelier, cocktail fanatic and bartender; he has been a professional in the fine wine, spirits and culinary industry for over 25 years. The first importer in the world to create a portfolio of handcrafted cachaças. He is an educator and the creator of award-winning Beleza Pura Cachaça and Caipirinha.

Berlic has been a member of the Sommelier Society of America and has competed in wine competitions. In 1994, he was recognized by the Association de la Sommellerie International as One of the Best Wine & Spirits Sommeliers in America and participated on NYC’s Gotham Bar & Grill team, winning the restaurant division in Kevin Zraly’s “Wine Challenge” in 1993. Berlic’s extensive experience is matched by his zest for the industry. An avid public speaker, he has lectured at NYU on restaurant management and served on the faculty of The Culinary Center in New York City

Berlic fell in love with Brazil over twenty-three years ago when he met his wife Marcia, a native of Sao Paulo, who taught him Portuguese along with their two children, Stephanie and Oliver.

“the caipirinha…has supplanted the mojito. The sad news is…you’ve been pretty much drinking swill… cachaça has only been imported in its cheapest of forms. That’s all changing, thanks to Olie Berlic, a NY based sommelier who wants to raise the cachaça bar…” Esquire 2005