Caipirinha
/

Caipirinha
Cocktail recipe

Rating

4.49 / 5
Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. Many variations exist, but the classic is widely mixed, drank and enjoyed!
Check out all our FAQ's on this cocktail

Microbadges

IBA Official Drink
Cocktail Of The Day
100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die
100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die (Part 2)
Invented
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1918)
Base ingredient
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cachaça
Calories
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
224 calories
Alcohol content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29.63% | 2.4 units *
Details
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Easy
Classic
Stirred

Lowball glass

Ingredients

oz
ml
cl
Serves:
-
+
cocktail colin avatar

Cocktail Colin says:

4/5

The Caipirinha is a delightful Brazilian classic that combines the zesty freshness of lime with the subtle sweetness of sugar, perfectly balanced by the bold kick of cachaça. This cocktail is a refreshing treat that's both tart and spirited, making it a lively choice for any occasion.

Method
How to make a Caipirinha

Serves 1 · Takes 3 minutes
First cut up the lime wedges into small segments that will be easy to muddle and release the flavours from
Next, in a lowball glass muddle the sugar and lime wedges
Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour over the cachaça
Give it a quick stir and serve

Power tips
Elevate the Caipirinha with these master mixologist tips

Upgrade to premium

And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.

Find out more
Opt for younger, less aged cachaca for a brighter and more authentic taste in your Caipirinha.
Ensure the limes are fresh and juicy by rolling them under your palm before cutting to release more juice.
Subscribe to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.

Caipirinha masterclass

Master the craft of the Caipirinha cocktail with one of our cocktail deep dive masterclasses

The History of the Caipirinha

Made with cachaça—the sweeter, more refined cousin of dark rum—the Caipirinha (Kai-Pur-reen-Ya) has...

Learn more about some of the mixology terms used in this cocktail

·  Muddle  ·  Stir  · 

Your private tasting notes

~ Register as a user for free to create tasting notes, save your bar and more ~

Can you make this?

Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.

Comments

No comments yet…

You need to be a user with a verified email to comment on cocktails. Login / register

Featured in

  • The Night Before
  • Great Looking Drinks
  • Festival liveners
  • Global Gastronomy: A World Tour of Cocktails
  • Summer Sizzlers: Refreshing Cocktails to Beat the Heat
  • Cocktails

In the labyrinth of youthful indiscretions, where nights dissolve into a hazy kaleidoscope of laughter and mischief, with a morning...

Go to collection

FAQ's

Faq icon

What is Cachaça and how does it differ from rum?

Cachaça is a Brazilian spirit made from fresh sugarcane juice, while rum is typically made from molasses, a by-product of sugar production. Cachaça has a fresher, more vegetal flavor profile compared to the sweeter taste of most rums. It's the key ingredient in a Caipirinha, giving the cocktail its distinctive taste.

Faq icon

Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar for a Caipirinha?

Yes, you can use brown sugar instead of white sugar to make a Caipirinha. Brown sugar will give the cocktail a deeper, slightly molasses-like flavor, which some may find to be an interesting variation. However, traditional Caipirinhas are made with white sugar, which dissolves easily and offers a clean, sweet taste.

Non alcoholic variations icon

Is there a non-alcoholic version of Caipirinha?

Yes, there is a non-alcoholic version of the Caipirinha known as 'Caipirinha Sem Álcool' or Virgin Caipirinha. It follows the same recipe but substitutes the cachaça with a non-alcoholic ingredient like ginger ale, sparkling water, or a combination of lime and sugar syrup. This variation maintains the refreshing characteristics of the original cocktail.

Serving suggestions icon

How should I serve Caipirinha to bring out its best taste?

Caipirinha is best served in a lowball glass, over crushed or cubed ice. Make sure to muddle the lime and sugar together thoroughly before adding the cachaça, to ensure the sugar dissolves and releases the essential oils from the lime. Stir well before serving to integrate all the flavors. A garnish of lime wedge can add an extra touch.

Faq icon

What dishes pair well with a Caipirinha?

Caipirinha pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes, especially spicy, fried, or salty foods. Its refreshing taste complements Brazilian cuisine like feijoada, barbecue, or seafood. Light salads, grilled chicken, or pork dishes also balance nicely with the cocktail's crisp and aromatic profile.

Upgrade your mixology

Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.

  • Save your bar forever
  • Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
  • Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
  • Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
  • Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
  • Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
  • A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
  • And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)

Create your own cocktail menu!

Use our interactive cocktail menu creator for free, and create wonderful looking cocktail menus for your next party, gathering or bar.

Great looking pre-built designed themes, group your cocktails, choose what to show on them and a host more options.

Get creating
build your bar

Create a cocktail

Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.

Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.

Start creating

Build your bar

Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.

Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.

Create My Bar
build your bar light mode image