Caipirinha
Brazil's national cocktail made with fresh lime, sugar, and cachaca muddled together over ice. Bracingly sour, sweet, and spirit-forward, it is one of the most satisfying two-minute drinks in the world.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh lime, cut into 8 wedges
- 2 tsp granulated white sugar (or raw demerara)
- 2 oz cachaca (Brazilian sugarcane spirit; substitute white rum if unavailable)
- 1 cup crushed ice
Instructions
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1
Place 1 cut into 8 wedges fresh lime wedges in a sturdy rocks glass or lowball glass.
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2
Add 2 tsp granulated white sugar (or raw demerara) directly over the lime.
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3
Muddle firmly with a muddler or the back of a spoon, pressing down and twisting to release all the juice and essential oils from the lime skin. Muddle vigorously for about 30 seconds.
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4
Fill the glass generously with 1 cup crushed ice.
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5
Pour 2 oz cachaca (Brazilian sugarcane spirit; substitute white rum if unavailable) over the ice. Stir well with a bar spoon until the sugar is fully dissolved and the drink is well chilled, about 20 to 30 seconds.
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6
Taste and add a little more sugar if desired. Serve immediately.