Caipirinha
As Brazil's national cocktail, the Caipirinha is a vibrant and rustic drink celebrated for its refreshing simplicity. Made by muddling fresh lime and sugar directly in the glass with cachaça, it's a potent and perfectly balanced taste of South America.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60ml) Cachaça
- 1 whole Lime
- 2 tsp Sugar
- Garnish: Lime Wheel
Instructions
- Prepare the Lime: Cut the ends off the lime. Slice it in half lengthwise, and cut out the bitter white pith from the center. Slice the remaining lime into wedges.
- Muddle: Place the lime wedges and sugar into a sturdy rocks glass.
- Press the Juice: Gently muddle the lime and sugar together. The goal is to press the juice from the fruit, not to shred the peel, which can release bitterness.
- Add Cachaça and Ice: Pour the cachaça into the glass and fill it with ice cubes (crushed ice also works well).
- Stir and Serve: Stir thoroughly from the bottom up to dissolve the sugar and chill the drink. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Pro Tips for Perfection
Cachaça is Essential: While similar to rum, authentic cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice, giving it a grassier, more funky flavor profile. Using it is key to a true Caipirinha. White rum is a substitute but will create a different drink (a variant called a Caipirissima).
The Art of Muddling: The secret to a great Caipirinha is to muddle gently. You want to press the pulp of the lime to extract the juice and oils, but avoid aggressively grinding the white pith, which will release bitter compounds into your drink.