Brazil's national cocktail made with cachaça, fresh lime, and sugar. This simple but refreshing drink showcases the sugarcane spirit cachaça, muddled with lime wedges and sugar to create a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and strong. The key to a great caipirinha is using fresh limes and proper muddling technique to release the essential oils from the lime peel without creating bitterness.
0 of 4 ingredients checked
4 items
Thoroughly wash the fresh lime under cold running water and pat dry with a clean towel before cutting.
Using a sharp knife, cut the lime into 8 wedges by first cutting it in half lengthwise, then cutting each half into quarters, removing the white pith from the center if desired to bitterness.
Add the lime wedges and white sugar to a sturdy old-fashioned glass or rocks glass.
Using a wooden muddler, firmly press and twist the lime wedges against the bottom and sides of the glass to release the juice and essential oils from the peel, muddling for about 30 seconds until the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture becomes fragrant.
Add the crushed ice to the glass until it is three-quarters full, packing it down slightly with the muddler.
Pour the cachaca over the ice and muddled lime mixture, then stir vigorously with a bar spoon or long spoon for 10-15 seconds to combine all ingredients and chill the drink thoroughly.
Sample the caipirinha to check sweetness, adding more sugar if needed and stirring to dissolve, then serve immediately with a straw or swizzle stick.
