Fresh caipirinha

Caipirinha

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Brazil’s national cocktail featuring cachaça, fresh lime, and sugar muddled to perfection.

SUGGESTED GLASSWARE

Rocks Glass

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Recipe

1 cocktail (160ml)
  • Cachaça 
    60 ml
  • Lime 
    1 whole
  • White Cane Sugar 
    2 tsp
Recipe credit: Traditional Brazilian Recipe

Instructions

Step

Wash the lime thoroughly and cut lengthwise into 4 wedges. Remove the white pith from the center of each wedge to prevent bitterness.

Step

Place lime wedges in the rocks glass flesh side up and sprinkle 2 teaspoons of cane sugar over the lime.

Step

Gently muddle the lime and sugar together using pressing motions rather than aggressive mashing. Release juice and oils without bruising the fruit.

Step

Pour 60ml cachaça over the muddled lime and sugar mixture.

Step

Fill the glass with ice cubes and stir well to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately with the lime wedges remaining in the glass.

Equipment

Muddler
Jigger
Knife
Bar spoon

Description

The Caipirinha is Brazil’s beloved national cocktail, a rustic yet refined drink that showcases cachaça, the country’s signature sugarcane spirit. This simple three-ingredient cocktail embodies the essence of Brazilian culture with its bold, refreshing character and emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients. Dating back to the early 20th century, the Caipirinha has evolved from a folk remedy to an internationally celebrated cocktail that perfectly balances sweet, tart, and earthy flavors.

Nutritional information

1 cocktail (160ml)
Calories
196
ABV
22.5 %
Alcohol
18 g
Carbs
12 g
Carbs from Sugar
10 g
Fat
0 g
Protein
0.2 g
Sodium
2 mg
Nutritional information is approximate and includes estimated 30% dilution from ice. Values may vary based on specific brands and preparation methods.

Tips & Notes

  • Always remove the white pith from lime wedges to prevent unwanted bitterness in your Caipirinha.

  • Use gentle pressing motions when muddling rather than aggressive mashing to avoid bruising the lime and creating bitter flavors.

  • Cane sugar is traditional and preferred for its flavor profile, but the sugar amount can be adjusted to personal taste preferences.

  • Build the cocktail directly in the serving glass rather than using a shaker to maintain the authentic rustic character.

  • Choose a quality cachaça - unaged varieties work best for Caipirinhas as they showcase the spirit's natural grassiness.

Cachaça is Brazil’s national spirit made from fresh sugarcane juice, giving it a grassy, earthy flavor distinct from rum. While white rum can be substituted (creating a Caipirissima), authentic cachaça is essential for a true Caipirinha experience.

Bitterness usually comes from over-muddling the lime or leaving the white pith on. Remove all white pith from lime wedges and use gentle pressing motions when muddling to extract juice and oils without bruising the fruit.

Yes! Popular variations include strawberry, mango, kiwi, or pineapple Caipirinhas. Simply muddle your chosen fruit with the sugar before adding cachaça, maintaining the same basic proportions.

Granulated cane sugar is traditional and preferred for its flavor and texture. Avoid powdered sugar which can make the drink cloudy, and superfine sugar dissolves more easily if available.

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Cocktail Difficulty Levels

We’ve added a difficulty rating to every cocktail so you’ll know what to expect before you start mixing. It’s not about being “hard” or “easy” in the strict sense—it’s about how much preparation, skill, and hunting for ingredients you’ll need.

  • Beginner – Quick builds or simple shakes with common ingredients you’ll likely already have at home. Perfect for beginners or a casual evening.

  • Intermediate – A bit more technique (stirring, shaking, muddling, layering) and a few extra ingredients. You might need to buy one or two bottles or garnishes you don’t already stock.

  • Advanced – Multiple steps, specialty techniques (infusions, syrups, foams), or rare ingredients. These drinks take more effort and planning, but reward you with something truly impressive.

The rating is based on things like the number of ingredients, how rare they are, and the skills needed to bring the cocktail together.

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Recipe notes

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Quick recipe

Ingredients

  • Cachaça
    60 ml
  • Lime
    1 whole
  • White Cane Sugar
    2 tsp

Method

  1. Wash the lime thoroughly and cut lengthwise into 4 wedges. Remove the white pith from the center of each wedge to prevent bitterness.
  2. Place lime wedges in the rocks glass flesh side up and sprinkle 2 teaspoons of cane sugar over the lime.
  3. Gently muddle the lime and sugar together using pressing motions rather than aggressive mashing. Release juice and oils without bruising the fruit.
  4. Pour 60ml cachaça over the muddled lime and sugar mixture.
  5. Fill the glass with ice cubes and stir well to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately with the lime wedges remaining in the glass.