The Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil, and for good reason. It’s made from their most popular distilled spirit – a very strong rum called Cachaça. This popular drink isn’t far removed from its warm-weather buddies, and it’s all you’ll want to drink during the Rio Olympic Games
The true Caipirinha recipe is very simple to make as it is mixed withCachaça, limes, and sugar. Cachaça is distilled from straight cane juice, but it’s more tart and sharp than its cousin, rum.
This drink is all about refreshing notes: it’s tart, but not too tart, and it wakes up your taste b
uds as it cools you down.
You could fancy the Caipirinha up, but the charm of this cocktail is in the simplicity. At heart, it’s just a lovely variation on a rum and lime cocktail like the Daiquiri.
It is ideal for sipping along on a warm evening as you wonder why we bother with all the complications of modern living.
“A caipirinha is right on par with a mojito as a classic, refreshing, summertime drink,” said mixologist Ivy Mix, an owner of the Brooklyn bar Leyenda, which specializes in drinks made with Latin spirits.
The caipirinha remains the cocktail most closely associated with cachaça. However, cachaça’s fortunes
in the States have changed significantly since the dawn of the new century.
“Before, most of the cachaça exported from Brazil used to be industrial cachaça,” said Thiago Carmosina, co-founder of Yaguara Cachaça, and a fifth-generation member of a cachaça-producing family. “It was column-distilled. Lately, you have a bunch of artisanal brands who have begun to export abroad.”
Brazilian dishes are the perfect food compliment to this drink. If you’ve never had Brazilian
food, or don’t have it available in your area, it’s time to start making it at home. It’s absolutely delicious cuisine.
Try a Galinhada Mineira, which is essentially saffron rice with chicken and vegetables, but with the addition of Brazilian ingredients that makes it unlike anything else.
