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Last Updated on June 20, 2020 by Lisa Johnson

The Olympic Games start tonight in Brazil, so I wanted to share a traditional cocktail for us to all sip while we enjoy watching our favorite sports. There is nothing more traditional than a Classic Brazilian Caipirinha, which is also known as the mojito’s cousin, and it’s just as easy to prepare…..

What is a Caipirinha?

The Classic Brazilian Caipirinha is made with cachaça, which is a sweet Brazilian style of rum that is made from pure sugarcane juice instead of molasses. The Caipirinha is getting more and more popular here in the US, so cachaça is becoming easier to find in well stocked liquor stores {not in many grocery stores}.

Once you get your hands on the cachaça, you only need limes, sugar, and some ice cubes and you are ready to party!!

How to make a Classic Brazilian Caipirinha:

Place lime wedges face up in the bottom of an Old-fashioned glass {or any small glass}…..

Sprinkle with sugar…..

Muddle {mash} to release the lime juice…..

Add ice and cachaça. Stir well and serve…..

They are light, refreshing, and go down way too easy…so be careful!! 😉

Notes:

If you cannot find cachaça, substitute vodka for a Caipiroska, or rum for a Caipiríssima.
I am almost positive that they use raw or turbinado sugar in Brazil, but I grabbed super-fine out of habit. Raw sugar will add a little more of a molasses flavor to your cocktail.
My muddler is MIA, so I grabbed a wooden tool out of the drawer that I believe is for pressing dough into mini pie pans??? Just find something that will mash your limes and sugar together without breaking the glass.
You do not need to completely pulverize the limes, just muddle enough to get the juice out.
I have seen versions with the limes cut into small wedges {like mine}, some with large wedges, and even some with peeled lime wedges. Do whatever works for you, just remember to clean the limes before you use them. 😉
I tossed some ice cubes into a zipper-top freezer bag and whacked them a few times with a wooden rolling pin to crush them….super simple.
Caipirnha is pronounced “Kai-Purr-Reen-Ya”
Cachaça is pronounced “Ka-Shah-Suh”

The Opening Ceremonies are about to begin, so I will let you check out the related cocktails listed right below the recipe.

Go Team USA!!

Update: I have received several comments and questions about the crazy glasses that I used in this post, aren’t they cool? Here is an Amazon link to them if you would like you’re own set. 🙂

I mentioned that a Caipirinha is a Mojito’s cousin so check out this Berry Mojito for a slightly different taste.

Enjoy!!