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Active Time
3 minutes
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Total Time
3 minutes
Unlike manycocktail recipesthat serve as rubrics for experimentation, a classic Caipirinha recipe requires precision—especially if it’s your first time making one. It might be tempting to simplify the Brazilian cocktail, which uses just three ingredients, by relying on bottled lime juice andsimple syrup. Don’t do it. Muddling fresh lime wedges with crunchy sugar crystals gives this refreshing drink its signature texture and flavor; it’s even better if you do it directly in the glass you plan to serve it in. The pith and peel from those lime pieces provide distinctive character to the finished cocktail.
The backbone of the drink is cachaça (such as Leblon or Avuá). Called the national drink of Brazil, cachaça is a spirit made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice. (Most rums, on the other hand, are derived from by-products of sugar cane production, such as molasses.) You can do all sorts of things with a bottle of cachaça, including swapping it in for tequila in amargaritaor rum in amojitoordaiquiri. However, the Caipirinha drink is where this Brazilian spirit truly shines.
Once your Caipirinha cocktail game is on point, there are a few worthwhile riffs to try. ACaipiroskaswaps in vodka for the cachaça, while a Caipirissima uses rum. And if you have fresh passion fruit, trythis variation.
Ingredients
Makes 1
Trim both ends off1 limeand discard the ends; cut lime into wedges and transfer to a small highball or old-fashioned glass. Add2 tsp. sugarand muddle it into the lime wedges. Pour in2–2½ oz cachaçaand stir. Addcrushed iceand stir well.
Editor’s note:This recipe was first printed in August 2004.Head this way for more of our favorite summer cocktails →
Leave a Review
Reviews (5)
Back to Top_ "NO! bottled lime juice " Great advise! Receita Perfeita!
Anonymous
LA,California
5/20/2023
This is exactly how we made our drinks on the Amazon River. Cachaca is hard to find in the states - keep looking. White Rum can substitute in a pinch. A lovely beverage!
Anonymous
Anchorage, AK
6/29/2006
I don't know what the earlier reviewer is talking about -- you want to muddle the lime rinds precisely in order to release their bitter oils. That's the whole point of muddling as compared to simply using the juice; it gives the drink greater depth and complexity. Maybe he didn't cut off the ends of the limes -- if you don't, you can end up with too much bitterness. But some of the bitter oils are essential. So just cut of the ends before cutting the lime into slices, then muddele the slices, rind and all.
porphyrogenitus
7/9/2005
Ahhh, refreshing and wonderful!! I had this drink at a Brazilian restaurant and liked it so much I had to try it at home. I think it may be my favorite summer drink - right up there with a good margarita. No problems with bitter lime peel despite mashing them with a wooden spoon. I had read that it is better to use super fine sugar, but regular granulated worked fine for us. Enjoy!!
Anonymous
Denver, CO
7/3/2005
Superb and Refreshing, there is not much else to say.
ehenson
Fort Worth, TX
10/7/2004
This is my favorite drink. Dont mash the lime peel too much or you will release the bitter oils. Instead, cut lime horizontally into slices, and muddle center of slices, avoiding the peel, with the sugar. Also SHAKE WELL for a ten count. Fantastic.
max_irwin
Boston, MA
9/22/2004
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