Dark Caipirinha
CLASSIC · CACHAÇA

Dark Caipirinha

A bolder, richer take on Brazil's national cocktail, swapping white sugar for demerara to deepen the earthy funk of cachaça with warm molasses undertones and a sharp hit of fresh lime.

Ingredients
Cachaça75 ml
Demerara Sugar10g
Lime
Lime Wedge
Glassware
Old-Fashioned Glass
Chilled.
Flavor
BODYSWEETFRUITACIDHEATSMOKEEARTHBITTER

Black pepper · Caramel · Cask character · Molasses / dark syrup · Lime

Estimated profile

Method
  1. 1

    Cut a lime into 8 wedges and place 4–6 wedges into an old-fashioned glass.

  2. 2

    Add 10g of demerara sugar directly onto the lime wedges.

  3. 3

    Muddle firmly for 20–30 seconds to dissolve the sugar and extract both the juice and the aromatic oils from the lime peel.

  4. 4

    Fill the glass with ice cubes.

  5. 5

    Pour 75ml of cachaça over the ice.

  6. 6

    Stir well for 10–15 seconds to integrate and chill.

  7. 7

    Garnish with a remaining lime wedge on the rim and serve immediately.

From the Bartender

The key to a great Caipirinha is muddling the lime wedges skin-side down to maximise the release of essential oils from the peel - this is what gives the drink its distinctive aromatic lift and separates it from a simple lime sour. Demerara sugar's larger crystals also act as an abrasive during muddling, helping to extract more juice and oil from the fruit.

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