I love a cocktail that reeks of its place of origin, made with a liquor whose terroir is evident in every sip. One such liquor is Cachaca. Made from fermented sugarcane, it is the drink of choice in Brazil, a country that has grown beautiful under benevolent rays of the sun (think Giselle Bundchen). Tiny bikinis, sun-kissed wavy beach hair everywhere you look, bronzed men on surfboards and... the national drink of choice, the Caiprinha. Seriously though, it is the national drink of Brazil. Come on America, what is OURS? BUD LIGHT?! God I hope not.
A Caiprinha is very simple. Let me break it down for you.
Ingredients
2 tsp superfine sugar (or 1 oz simple syrup, or for our diabetic friends, 2 tsp splenda)
4 lime wedges
2 oz Leblon cachaca
You will be making this icy treat in a rocks glass. So, add lime wedges and sweetener to your glass. Muddle into a juicy slurry for about 15 seconds. Add ice (crushed is recommended). Add cachaca. Cover glass with cocktail shaker and SHAKE WHAT YA MAMA GAVE YA. Or, just stir it. Up to you.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
Now put yourself in the horizontal position, perhaps in some outdoor situation. Let the breeze blow over you and take a deep breath. You are probably not on a beach but you can pretend. And if you are on a beach, well, screw you (but only because I'm jealous). Because guess what? It's cachcaca o'clock.
Salud!
