Caipirinha Recipe

Prepare the lime

Wash the lime and cut off the ends. Cut the lime into 8 wedges: first slice in half lengthwise, then cut each half into quarters. If you prefer a slightly less bitter drink, remove the central white pith from each wedge.

Muddle with sugar

Place the lime wedges into a sturdy old-fashioned or rocks glass. Add the granulated sugar on top of the wedges. Using a muddler (or the back of a spoon), press and twist firmly to crush the lime flesh and rind, releasing juice and essential oils. Continue muddling until the sugar dissolves into a syrupy mixture and the lime pieces are well macerated, about 20–30 seconds. Avoid over-muddling so you do not extract excessive bitter oils from the pith.

Add cachaça

Pour 2 oz (about 60 ml) of cachaça into the glass. Stir briskly for 10–15 seconds to combine the liquor with the muddled lime-sugar mixture so the flavors marry.

Add ice and finish

Fill the glass with crushed ice up to the top (about 1 cup). Using a bar spoon, fold/stir gently 6–8 times to chill and slightly dilute the cocktail, integrating the ice with the mixture. Top with a lime wheel or wedge for garnish.

Serve

Serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer so the drink can be re-stirred as the ice melts. Taste and, if desired, adjust sweetness on subsequent drinks by adding ½ tbs more sugar or using finer sugar syrup for easier dissolution.