The Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil, and for good reason. It’s made from their most popular distilled spirit – Cachaca – and while I’ve never had the pleasure of drinking one in Brazil, I’m told that’s the perfect climate for enjoying this wonderful cocktail.
The true Caipirinha recipe is very simple: Cachaca, limes and sugar. Cachaca is distilled from straight cane juice, but it’s more tart and sharp than its cousin, rum.
You could fancy the Caipirinha up, but the charm of this cocktail is in the simplicity. It’s ideal for sipping along on a warm evening as you wonder why we bother with all the complications of modern living.
Recipe
- 2 ounces Cachaca
- 1-2 juicy limes (key limes are particularly good)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (some prefer superfine sugar or simple syrup)
Cut the lime(s) into quarters or eighths, remove the core and any seeds, then muddle them with the sugar in the mixing glass from a shaker. Add crushed ice to the mixing glass, then add the Cachaca, then shake it all together. Pour everything, including the ice and the lime sections, into an old-fashioned glass. (The limes will continue to release juice, so you definitely want to leave them in.) That’s it!
Note: some people recommend brown sugar. It doesn’t look so pretty, but it tastes great. Also, some people recommend using the cheaper Cachacas rather than the high end stuff.
As for food suggestions, honestly? This drink goes with everything. Dinner, snacks, party trays – whatever. I can’t even bring myself to make specific suggestions because it’s just one of those drinks that’s never wrong.
I’m from brazil, but I usually do it with vodka,
You can substitute the key lime for basically any fruit, my favorites are strawberry, kiwi, and passion fruit
You can also built the caipirinha in the old fashioned glass.
In Brazil, they use ice cubes and no crushed ice, but i prefer the caipirinha with crushed ice