Cocktail of the Week: Caipirinha

This week, we'll be looking at a drink adored by Brazilians. Honestly, it's adored by almost anyone who tries it, but Brazil often lays claim to it as its national drink. Made from cachaca, lime, and brown sugar, the caipirinha is like a sweeter version of a mojito, minus the...

By Brett Gillin

June 11, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

This week, we'll be looking at a drink adored by Brazilians. Honestly, it's adored by almost anyone who tries it, but Brazil often lays claim to it as its national drink. Made from cachaca, lime, and brown sugar, the caipirinha is like a sweeter version of a mojito, minus the annoying mint leaves sticking to your teeth. If you know how to muddle, you can make this drink easily.

Fist step is cutting a lime into six to eight wedges. Drop the wedges into the bottom of a shaker, add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and muddle (AKA smash) them all together. Once you've got a greenish brown mush at the bottom of your shaker, add a couple of ounces of cachaca (available locally at Crown Wine and Spirits, among other places) and squeeze the juice of half a lime or lemon into the glass. Now fill it all with ice and shake for ten to 15 seconds, and you're done. Serve straight up or on the rocks.

Some people don't like the strong, sweet taste of cachaca, so feel free to substitute vodka or even clear rum.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.