Caipirinha Recipe

Prepare the lime

Wash the lime. Cut off the ends, then cut the lime into 8 wedges (quarter the lime, then cut each quarter in half). Remove any large central pith if present.

Muddle lime and sugar

Place the lime wedges in a sturdy old-fashioned (rocks) glass. Add the 2 tsp granulated sugar on top of the lime. Using a muddler (or handle of a wooden spoon), press and twist firmly 8–10 times to crush the lime, extracting juice and oils from the peel and dissolving the sugar. Do not pulverize the peel into tiny bits; the goal is to release juice and aromatic oils.

Add cachaça

Pour 2 oz (about 60 ml) cachaça into the glass over the muddled lime and sugar. Stir briskly 10–15 seconds to further dissolve any remaining sugar and integrate flavors.

Add ice

Fill the glass with crushed ice (or roughly crushed cubed ice) up to the rim, about 1 cup. Using a bar spoon, lift and fold the mixture once or twice to chill and slightly dilute the drink.

Garnish and serve

Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge on the rim. Serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer so the drink can be re-mixed as ice melts.