It's Friday! Saude! It's CaChaca Time!

We will become very familiar with this spirit because Brazil will be hosting The Summer Olympics in 2016 and The Fifa World Cup in 2014.
Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil and the main ingredient is Cachaca. Cachaca is made from fermented sugar cane. Rum is made from Molasses, Cachaca is made from fresh sugar cane juice with is fermented and distilled. There are two varieties of Cachaca aged and unaged, or white and dark. Unaged and white is often used in cocktails while the aged or dark is meant to me drank straight or on the rocks.

This update is dedicated to my friend Shelley, this is her favorite spirit. Enjoy SSM!

Tohu Swizzle Cocktail

• 3 blackberries
• ¼ ounce falernum (a sweet almond-ginger syrup)
• ¾ ounce lemongrass simple syrup (see O's recipe, below)
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces cachaça
• Soda water
• Raspberries and blueberries, for garnish

In a tall pilsner glass, muddle raspberries and blackberries. Add falernum, lemongrass simple syrup, lime juice, and cachaça. Add crushed ice. Stir, then top with soda water and more crushed ice. Garnish with berries. 

To make lemongrass syrup
Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 3 pieces of fresh lemongrass (about 1 inch each) in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until liquid becomes sticky, about 10 minutes. Let cool; strain and discard lemongrass. Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 month.

O Peixinho Morto Cocktail

• 2 ounces cachaça
• 1/2 ounce ginger syrup (Hawaiian ginger is best)
• 1/2 ounce orgeat (almond syrup with a little orange blossom water)
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• Orange peel, for garnish

Add all ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze orange peel into drink and drop in.

Carnivale

•  2 slices fresh jalapeño
• 1/2 ounce maraschino cherry liqueur
• 1/2 ounce orange liqueur
• 2 ounces aged cachaça
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Lightly muddle the slice of jalapeño with the maraschino and orange liqueurs. (The longer you muddle the pepper, the more spicy the cocktail will be.) Add all other ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, making sure no seeds or bits of pepper make it into the drink. Rub a slice of jalapeño around the glass rim. Garnish with a cherry.

Brazilian Tourist 

• 4 mint leaves
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce pineapple juice
• 1 tsp. yuzu juice
• 1 ounce green tea
• 1 1/2 ounces cachaça
• Sprig of mint, for garnish

Tear mint leaves and place in a mixing glass. Add simple syrup, lemon juice, pineapple juice, yuzu juice, green tea and cachaça. Add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with a large mint sprig.

Edison's Medicine

• 3 large sprigs of basil
• 3/4 ounce agave syrup
• 1 1/2 ounces cachaça
• 1/2 ounce yellow Chartreuse (an herbal liqueur)
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Lemon peel, for garnish

Muddle the basil and agave syrup.

Add the remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

and the most famous recipe ........


CAIPIRINHA

1/2 lime, quartered

1 teaspoon white sugar

2 1/2 fluid ounces cachaca

1 cup ice cubes

In a large rocks glass squeeze and drop in 2 eighths of lime. Add sugar, crush and mix with a spoon. Pour in the cachaca and plenty of ice. Stir well.



Please remember to drink responsibly!



Have a fabulous weekend!!