Verão Recipe

Zest 6–8 limes to collect about 1 tablespoon of zest. Juice enough limes to yield 3/4 cup fresh lime juice. Strain to remove pulp and seeds.

Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat gently and stir until sugar fully dissolves to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Add the warm simple syrup to the lime juice, stir in the lime zest. If using, add 1 tablespoon neutral spirit to help preserve and integrate flavors. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Keeps up to 2 weeks.

Lightly crush 1/2 teaspoon pink peppercorns with the back of a spoon. Combine crushed peppercorns and 1 teaspoon dried rosemary in a small jar.

Pour 2 ounces high-proof neutral spirit over the botanicals. Optionally add 1/4 ounce aromatic bitters to round the flavor. Seal and let infuse in a cool, dark place for 24–72 hours, tasting daily until desired intensity is reached.

Once flavored, strain through a fine mesh or coffee filter into a small dropper bottle. Use 3 dashes per cocktail. Keeps for months if refrigerated or stored with a bit of base spirit.

Chill glass

Place a rocks glass in the freezer or fill with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.

Add 1.5 oz silver cachaça, 0.5 oz aged cachaça, 0.75 oz house lime cordial and 3 dashes rosemary & pink peppercorn bitters into a cocktail shaker.

Fill the shaker with 6 ice cubes. Vigorously shake for 12–15 seconds until the shaker becomes frosty and the mixture is well-chilled.

Discard ice or water from the chilled rocks glass. Fill the glass with fresh ice (about 1 cup crushed or large cubes). Strain the cocktail into the glass over the ice.

Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a lime wheel. Clap the rosemary between your palms first to release aromatics and optionally brush the sprig over the rim so the rosemary oils perfume the drink.

Serve immediately. Tasting notes: bright citrus from the lime cordial, grassy and vegetal notes from the silver cachaça, deeper caramel/vanilla from the aged cachaça, and a savory herbal/pepper finish from the bitters.