Classic Cocktails & Drinks With A Funky Twist

Caipirinha

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Posted: 10/06/23

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

A cocktail as Brazilian as soccer, the Caipirinha drink is uniquely refreshing and contains only three ingredients. Making and enjoying a Caipirinha at home is much simpler than traveling to Brazil to indulge in the South American country’s national drink. It is perfect for a warm day or anytime you need your thirst quenched.

two glasses of Caipirinha recipe with ice, limes, and straws

Like the Mojito, the Caipirinha is a muddled cocktail. Made with fresh lime juice, sugar, and Cachaça, it is prepared by mixing the fruit and sugar together followed by the addition of the spirit. The recipe and flavor are straightforward and sure to be a delight, especially on a warm day!

Caipirinha Ingredients

To make one Caipirinha drink, you will need:

  • One lime (cut into wedges)
  • One heaping tablespoon of sugar
  • 2 ounces Cachaça (there’s no substitute, it’s the star of the cocktail. See more on what it is below.)
  • Lots of ice
muddling fresh limes with sugar in a glass to make a Caipirinha recipe

What is Cachaça?

Cachaça is a spirit that is exclusively made in Brazil. It is similar to rum but is distilled from the fermented juice of sugar cane rather than molasses, which gives it more of a grassy flavor and makes it less sweet. Not many other cocktails use Cachaça besides the classic Caipirinha, but this simple and delightful recipe is worth purchasing a bottle alone!

How to Make Caipirinha

  1. In a double rocks glass or glass tumbler, add lime wedges and sugar.
  2. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, gently mash or muddle the lime and sugar together.
  3. Add ice to the glass followed by the cachaça.
  4. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wheel.
  5. Enjoy!
stir stick stirring glass of Caipirinha cocktail recipe with ice and fresh limes

How to Serve a Caipirinha Drink

Serve your Caipirinha in a glass tumbler with lots of ice. A lime wheel makes the perfect garnish and allows for extra lime juice to be added if desired.

Variations

While there are no true variations from the original Caipirinha drink that is perfect as is, there are a few refreshing cousin cocktails. The most common variation on the Brazillian favorite is the Caipiroska which swaps vodka for Cachaça. For a fruity twist, try the Strawberry Caipiroska.

two glasses of Caipirinha with ice, fresh limes, straws, and a bottle of Cachaça in the background

Other Classic Cocktails

  • A simple rum cocktail with many variations, the original Daiquiri is as classic as they come.
  • No one can turn down a fresh Margarita featuring tequila and this homemade sweet and sour mix.
  • The Aperol Spritz is ultra-refreshing, looks like a sunset, and tastes like summer.
two glasses of Caipirinha with ice and fresh limes

If you try this Caipirinha recipe or any of my other cocktails, leave a comment and tell me what you think!

two glasses of Caipirinha recipe with ice, limes, and straws
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Caipirinha

Serves: 1 cocktail
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
The Caipirinha is a uniquely refreshing Brazilian cocktail that contains only three ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Cachaça
  • 1 Lime cut into wedges
  • 4 teaspoons sugar

Instructions

  • Put the lime and the sugar into a glass.
  • Muddle the lime and the sugar together.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • Pour in the Cachaça, stir gently.
  • Garnish and enjoy.
Author: Nathan Longley
Course: Drinks
two glasses of Caipirinha recipe with ice, limes, and straws

Did You Make This

Caipirinha

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @shakedrinkrpt and hashtag it #shakedrinkrepeat!

Nathan Longley has been his wife’s personal bar tender for as long as he can remember. While he most often enjoys a cold beer, he is known to love our vodka gimlet.

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