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Caipirinha

The Caipirinha (kai/pee/reen/ya) is the national drink of Brazil. The base spirit cachaça (ka/cha/sa) is made from sugar and considered to be in the rum family,but it is much more vegetal and earthy than other styles of rum.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • Old fashioned glass
  • Jigger
  • Muddler

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 ounces cachaca such as novo fogo silver

Instructions
 

  • Place half a lime cut-side down on a cutting board and cut about ⅛ inch off the “north and south poles,” or the ends.
  • Cut the half lime into three wedges (or four wedges for a large lime).
  • Cut each wedge in half width wise to make almost a cube, the ideal shape.
  • Put six lime “cubes” in the old fashioned glass. Add the sugar
  • Use the muddler to extract the juice and incorporate the sugar. Add the cachaça. Stir with the muddler to incorporate. Add ice to fill the glass.

Notes

If the funkiness (or soil-like flavor) of the cachaça puts you off, or if you have a difficult time finding it, substitute a traditional silver rum of your choice, such as the ubiquitous Bacardi Silver.
Keyword Caipirinha, cocktails, granulated sugar, Jigger