A refreshing cocktail that’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, this caipirinha cocktail recipe will be your new favorite summer drink. Caipirinha (pronouced kai-pee-reen-ya) is Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar, and lime. It’s a bright and boozy drink that really packs a punch.
Perfect for slowly sipping on a hot day, you can quickly whip this drink up for any occasion. The history behind the cocktail is unclear as some believed it was initially a medicinal drink while others believe it was a local drink for parties. Whichever the case may be, this cocktail has become a massive hit, and you can make this at home in a few simple steps. For another easy cocktail, try my watermelon margarita recipe, sidecar recipe, or paloma recipe.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Limes — you must use fresh lime. Bottled lime juice contains preservatives that can alter the overall flavor of this caipirinha recipe. For the best flavor, use a ripe lime that is soft when you squeeze it and gives off a lime aroma when you scratch and sniff it.
Sugar — granulated sugar is ideal for this cocktail as the sugar is coarse enough to help with muddling the lime wedges. Finer sugars or powdered sugar will melt too quickly.
Cachaça — use your favorite brand or type of cachaça for this caipirinha. White cachaça (also known as clássica or tradicional) is not stored in wood after distillation and has an aroma and tastes closer to sugar cane. Amarela or yellow cachaça is stored or aged in wood and takes on the aroma of the wood it is aged in.
How to Make Caipirinha
1. Slice the lime wedges and add them to a glass.
2. Add the sugar to the glass of lime wedges.
3. Muddle together the lime wedges and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
4. Fill the glass with ice and add the cachaça.
5. Stir for a few seconds.
6. Serve immediately garnished with a lime slice, if desired.
Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
- To avoid a bitter taste in your caipirinha cocktail, remove the pith from the lime wedges before muddling them.
- As the lime wedges go directly into the drink, make sure to give them a good wash beforehand.
- Feel free to add more sugar if the limes are too tart for your liking.
- As you have to muddle the lime and sugar for caipirinha, a sturdy or heavy-bottomed glass is ideal.
- If you do not have a muddler, you can use a wooden pestle or wooden spoon to release the juices from the limes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this cocktail and a mojito?
Both cocktails are on the sweeter side and have similar ingredients. However, a mojito is a Cuban cocktail consisting of rum, lime, sugar, and mint, whereas a caipirinha is a Brazilian drink made with cachaça, lime, sugar, and ice. A mojito is also usually served in a tall glass.
What kind of liquor is cachaça?
Cachaça is a Brazilian distilled liquor made from fermented raw sugarcane juice. It has between 38 and 54 percent alcohol by volume. Cachaça must be produced in Brazil to be labeled cachaça.
What are some variations on this cocktail?
- Caipirila: make the caipirinha with tequila instead of cachaça.
- Sakedina or caipisake: swap the cachaça for sake.
- Caipiríssima: use rum in place of cachaça.
- Caipiroska: make the caipirinha cocktail with vodka instead.
If you love this recipe try these out!
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Caipirinha
Equipment
- Cocktail glass
- Muddler
Ingredients
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
- 2 ounces cachaça
- Ice
Instructions
- Place the lime wedges and sugar in the bottom of a cocktail glass and muddle together until the sugar is dissolved.
- Fill the glass with ice. Add the cachaça and stir for a few second.
- Serve immediately garnished with a lime slice, if desired.
Notes
- To avoid a bitter taste in your cocktail, remove the pith from the lime wedges before muddling them.
- As the lime wedges go directly into the drink, make sure to give them a good wash beforehand.
- Feel free to add more sugar if the limes are too tart for your liking.
- As you have to muddle the lime and sugar for caipirinha, a sturdy or heavy-bottomed glass is ideal.
- If you do not have a muddler, you can use a wooden pestle or wooden spoon to release the juices from the limes.
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