Happy New Year!! I’m not much of a drinker, but in honor of today, it only seems right to share a celebratory cocktail recipe!
It’s funny—despite having spent the last few years with Gustavo (who’s Brazilian), I only learned about Brazil’s national drink last year in Berlin from a German friend. Surprisingly, the caipirina (or “caipi” if you’re German) is really popular in Berlin. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, though, considering how delicious this drink is!
Once I fell in love with caipirinhas, Gustavo revealed that his dad is renowned for making the best caipis around. Of course I took advantage of the six weeks we spent with Gustavo’s parents in Brazil a few months later to learn exactly how his dad makes his famous caipirinhas (which really are the best around).
Here’s the recipe. It’s super simple, but tastes amazing. The key is in adding enough sugar; otherwise, the cachaça is just overpowering.
Ingredients
- 1 lime plus more for garnish
- 5 teaspoons sugar
- ice
- 4 ounces good-quality cachaça
Instructions
- Cut the top and bottom off the lime. Slice the remainder of the lime into three or four rounds, depending on how long it is.
- Cut each round in half, then in quarters, to create thin quarter-circle slices.
- Put the lime pieces into a tumbler and pour the 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons of sugar on top. Muddle the lime and sugar until the sugar has mostly dissolved in the resulting lime juice.
- Fill the tumbler completely with ice cubes, then pour the cachaça over the ice. With a small spoon, stir enough to mix the cachaça with the lime and sugar mixture at the bottom of the glass.
Want to remember this? Post this Brazilian cocktail recipe to your favorite Pinterest board!
Jane Kerlinger
I am lucky to have tasted one made by Airton. Memorable and fantastic.