How Brazilians Drink Whisky: Sometimes a Single Film Scene Says More Than a Thousand Tasting Notes

A brief scene from the film I’m Still Here says a surprising amount about how whisky is enjoyed in Brazil. The movie is based on a true story and it’s wonderful to see how a movie can illuminate another culture.

I’m Still Here tells the true story of the Brazilian Paiva family during the military dictatorship of the 1970s. When congressman Rubens Paiva suddenly disappears, his wife fights to uncover the truth, no small feat under a dictatorship. This year, the film won the Oscar for Best International Feature.

It takes a long time before any whisky appears on screen. It only happens near the end, after a 25-year time jump, when there’s finally something to celebrate.

In one scene, the Paiva family’s mother pours three glasses of whisky: one for herself, and two for her son and daughter. The son immediately reacts: “This isn’t that fake whisky, is it?” Her answer is telling: after three shots you can’t tell the difference anyway. Yet after a single glass he instantly notices it’s the real thing.

What stands out most is that the whisky is served in tumblers, with plenty of ice in the bottom. Given that I’m Still Here strives for authenticity, it offers a window into how whisky is typically drunk in Brazil.

In many whisky-loving countries, ice in a movie would spark debate. Not in Brazil. There, whisky is often served chilled, usually with ice and frequently mixed. The warm climate plays a part, but so does the social context.

The remark about “fake whisky” likely refers to cheaper or local alternatives found in Brazil. High import duties make real whisky expensive, and counterfeits or lookalikes do exist. That makes the distinction between genuine and fake a real consideration in daily life.

The fact that the son recognizes it after just one glass, even with ice, underscores something important: ice doesn’t mask everything. Good whisky remains recognizable, no matter the country or the brand. The brand in the film, incidentally, is not identifiable.

If you pay close attention, you can often see the role whisky plays in different cultures. Do note the film ultimately brings viewers to the year 1996.

If you know how whisky is consumed in Brazil today, share your insights in the comments below, though we don’t expect major changes. Single malt will be available, but whisky’s role and the way it’s enjoyed simply differ from what we’re used to in Europe.

Want to learn more about whisky’s role in film? Check out this overview.