If you have been to the Rodizio restaurant available at Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, then you must be familiar with the caipirinha.
Not to be confused with the mojito, another favorite amongst cocktail lovers, the caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail. It is essentially made with about 3-4 lime wedges, 2 teaspoons of sugar, crushed ice and 2.5 oz of cachaça per drink, and served on the rocks.
Just like rum, the cachaça is made from the sugarcane. The main difference between the two being the elements from which they are processed, cachaça being from the fresh-pressed juice of the sugarcane and the rum from the molasses, a byproduct of the sugar refining process. The cachaça and the rum are also aged differently. The cachaça can also be served on the rocks, or as a rum substitute on many cocktails.
Here’s our take on a quick and easy yet traditional caipirinha:
Slice the limes and put them in a lowball glass along with the sugar. Muddle both ingredients and add the ice on top. Add the cachaça and stir. If you want to remain as true as possible to the Brazilian original, stay closer to the lime flavor and low on the alcohol.
Did you know? There is a variant of the caipirinha, but it uses vodka instead of cachaça. It has become quite popular after the vodka gained popularity especially due to the rising variety in brands of vodka. This cocktail is called the caipiroska (or caipivodka) and only requires 2 oz vodka, ½ lime cut into wedges, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and crushed ice for each glass. The preparation is the same as the caipirinha.
Check-out these other lemon-based cocktails or visit the monthly flavor section for more recipes.
