How to Make the Perfect Caipirinha – Brazil’s Classic Cocktail

Ingredients (1 serving):

• 2 oz (60 ml) Cachaça (Brazilian sugarcane spirit)

• 1 fresh lime (small to medium)

• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar (or superfine sugar for easier dissolving)

• Ice cubes or crushed ice

Equipment Needed:

• Rocks glass (or old fashioned glass)

• Muddler (wooden or plastic preferred)

• Small knife

• Spoon or cocktail stirrer

Instructions:

1. Prepare the lime:

   • Wash and dry the lime.

   • Cut it into 8 wedges (cut in half lengthwise, then each half into 4 wedges).

   • Optionally, remove the white core from the center if you want a less bitter drink.

2. Muddle the lime and sugar:

   • Place the lime wedges cut-side up into the bottom of a rocks glass.

   • Add 2 teaspoons of sugar on top of the lime.

   • Use a muddler to press (not smash!) the limes, releasing juice and mixing it with the sugar.

     • Press firmly enough to extract juice but avoid over-muddling the peel (which can make it bitter).

3. Add the Cachaça:

   • Pour in 2 oz (60 ml) of Cachaça over the muddled mixture.

4. Add ice:

   • Fill the glass with ice cubes or crushed ice (crushed gives a more intense chill and dilutes slightly faster, balancing the bold flavors).

5. Stir and serve:

   • Stir well to mix the lime, sugar, and cachaça throughout the ice.

   • Optionally garnish with a lime wheel or wedge.

Tips for the Perfect Caipirinha:

• Use good-quality Cachaça—look for artisanal or aged varieties for richer flavor.

• If using coarse sugar, give the drink a good stir before serving to help it dissolve.

• Crushed ice is traditional in Brazil and helps mellow the drink slightly.

• Want it a bit sweeter? Add a little more sugar to taste.