The Caipirinha is Brazil’s national drink. I learned how to make this from a Brazilian colleague while I was working as a bartender on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA. It was not on the menu, but it quickly became a personal favorite. At the time I had trouble pronouncing it and just referred to it as Brazilian Lemonade. The bar did not carry Cachaça, so I was taught using white Bacardi Rum.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 to 2 limes (to taste)
- 1/2 to 2 teaspoons sugar (to taste)
- 2 ounces Cachaça (I substituted white Bacardi Rum)
- Crushed Ice
- Garnish: lime wheel
INSTRUCTIONS
- Gather the ingredients.
- Cut half of a lime into small wedges.
- Place the lime and sugar into an old-fashioned glass and muddle well.
- Add crushed ice and 1.5 oz of Cachaça.
- Cover glass and shake
- Top with remaining Cachaça.
PRO TIPS
- Sugar the rim of the glass using lime or lemon to wet the rim.
- Add lemon to the recipe
- Garnish with lemon and lime
- In the absence of cachaça, vodka can be used, making it a Caipiroska.
