How Do You Make A Caipirinha, The National Cocktail Of Brazil?
My husband and I recently bought a bottle of Cachaça (pronounced ka-SHA-sa), the national spirit of Brazil, distilled from sugar cane juice. We have been making a wide variety of Caipirinhas (pronounced kai-pur-EEN-ya). Here is a recipe for the traditional version. In a cocktail shaker, place the lime wedges and sugar or simple syrup. Using superfine sugar is more traditional, but simple syrup ensures that there are no sugar granules left in your drink. The choice is up to you. Muddle the lime and sugar for about 15 seconds. Muddling involves crushing the limes so that the juice is extracted and mixed with the sugar. If you don’t have a muddler, you can use a wooden spoon or a pestle. When you have finished muddling, add the 2 ounces of Cachaça and one ice cube to the shaker. Put the top on and shake! Using the cocktail shaker’s strainer, pour the mixture into a rocks or highball glass filled with the rest of the ice. Garnish with a lime, if you desire.
