Caipirinha

Refreshing, cool, sweet and festive, caipirinha is Brazil. And if caipirinha is Brazil, then cachaça (see Glossary) is our national shrine. Caipirinha is a simple cocktail based on a mixture of mashed lime with sugar, ice and cachaça. There are a few variables, however, that make all the difference. The lime should be cut into medium chunks, then mashed with sugar by a wooden muddler until the lime releases its oil. Transfer