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caipirinhas on cutting board on patio — Caipirinhas are a refreshing summer cocktail. Serve them at your next alfresco happy hour!

The Brazilian Caipirinha is one of my favorite summer cocktails. It’s easy to make, requires only three ingredients, and provides a nice change up from the more common summer cocktails (e.g., margaritas, mojitos, and gin and tonics). If you are unfamiliar with caipirinhas, they’re a cocktail made with the Brazilian spirit cachaca. The other ingredients include limes, sugar, and ice – pretty simple right? Impress your friends with your worldliness by mixing these cocktails next time you host a happy hour.

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Never Heard of Cachaca?

Cachaca is Brazil’s most popular spirit. Like rum, cachaca is distilled from sugar cane. The process, however, is somewhat different. While rum is usually distilled from molasses, cachaca made from fresh sugar cane juice which is fermented and distilled. This results in a different taste which I’ve seen described as having a “fruitier livilier nose” than rum. Check out this article for more detail on cachaca.

Where Can I Find Cachaca?

Cachaca has been growing in popularity over the last couple of years. You should be able to find it in most liquor stores. Check the rum section first but ask around if you can’t find it there. Cachaca and caipirinhas can also be found at many bars and restaurants serving craft cocktails – especially if they have a Latin American theme. You are also likely to find variations on the traditional lime caipirinha – I’ve seen blackberry, rasberry, and pineapple caipirinhas.

cachaca, limes, sugar, cups, and cocktail shaker — Get your cachaca, limes, sugar, glasses, and tools.

limes on cutting board by pool — Cut the end from your limes. Halve each lime and cut out the pith core. Then cut each half into quarters and then eighths.

making caipirinhas — Put lime wedges in your glasses, add sugar and muddle. I’m making one with turbinado sugar and one with white sugar.

Fill each glass to the brim with ice. Add cachaca and then transfer contents to shaker. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds and then return contents to glass!

two caiphirinas next to cocktail shaker and muddler — Two lovely caipirinhas!

Brazilian Caipirinhas

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 drink 1x

Print Recipe

Description

I think there are three secrets to a perfect caipirinia:

Cut the lime properly
Use lots of crushed ice
Use a cocktail shaker

Number (3) might not be in keeping with the most authentic caipirinia making methods but I find I have trouble getting the sugar to fully dissolve and the drink to mix properly without this step.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lime
1 tablespoon turbinado or white sugar
2 oz cachaca
crushed ice
juice of ½ lime and splash of soda water (optional)

Instructions

Traditional Caipirinha

Take your lime and slice of each end. Cut in half lengthwise. Core the lime havles to remove the center pith. Cut each cored half into quarters. Then cut each quarter in half. You should end up with 8 small lime wedges per half (16 wedges per lime).
Add the lime wedges to a rocks glass. Add sugar and muddle until juice is released and sugar dissolves in lime juice.
Fill glass with crushed ice. Add the cachaca.
Transfer contents of glass to shaker and shake vigoursly for 15-20 seconds.
Pour shaker contents back into glass.
Cut remaining lime in half. Squeeze the juice of one half into drink and stir.

Notes

If you use white sugar the drink will be clear. Turbinado sugar gives it a golden appearance.

Brazilian Caipirinha