Caipirinha
Photo by Noah Tanen
- Serves
- 1
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
The Caipirinha is to Cachaça, a Brazilian spirit made from fermented and distilled sugarcane, what the Old Fashioned is to whiskey. I like to think of these simple, spirit-forward cocktails as frames: just a few key ingredients added to temper and highlight the core spirit. In the case of the Caipirinha, sugar and lime bring out the grassy, slightly funky character of the Cachaça, leaving a drink that feels somehow both stripped down and complete. The undissolved sugar granules floating around the drink are a key element here. They add texture and the drink becomes sweeter over time. Adding a little extra sugar right on top of the drink only enhances the experience.
Ingredients
- 1 whole lime
- 2 bar spoons white sugar, plus more for sprinkling over top
- 2 oz Cachaça
Directions
- Step 1
Trim off the stem ends of the lime and cut into even wedges, removing any white pith from the center. Add to a chilled rocks glass with 2 barspoons of white granulated sugar. Muddle thoroughly until all the juice is squeezed out of the limes. Add the Cachaça and stir until most, but not all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Step 2
Fill the glass about ¾ full of crushed ice and stir briefly until chilled. Add an extra sprinkle of white sugar over top before serving.