Caipirinha

The Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail: cachaça muddled with fresh lime and sugar, served over crushed ice. Sharp, sweet and full of fresh lime.

Ingredients

• 50ml cachaça
• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 2 teaspoons caster sugar (or 15ml sugar syrup)
• Crushed ice

Method

1. Muddle: Put the lime wedges and sugar into a sturdy rocks glass and press firmly with a muddler to release the juice.
2. Add ice: Fill the glass with crushed ice.
3. Pour: Add the cachaça.
4. Stir: Stir well to mix and top with a little more crushed ice.

Tips for the Perfect Caipirinha

• Cachaça is a Brazilian spirit distilled from fresh sugar cane juice; white rum is the nearest substitute, though then it is technically a Caipiríssima.
• Don't over-muddle: crushing the pith too hard makes the drink bitter.
• Caster sugar dissolves faster than granulated sugar.

Variations

Swap the cachaça for vodka to make a Caipiroska, or muddle in a few strawberries or passion fruit.

Please drink responsibly. Know your limits, and never drink and drive.