To continue our refreshing summer cocktail hit list, you could fly down to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro for one of the greatest summer cocktails in history, or for those who are watching their wallets, you can make the Brazilian national drink, the Caipirinha, on your own.
With its beginnings humbly nestled in the countryside of Brazil, this cocktail has been reaching meteoric heights with the growing popularity of Cachaça. Cachaça is not unlike rum. A number of people will call Cachaça Brazilian rum, which is not entirely incorrect. Most rum is made with molasses, which is a byproduct of the transformation of Sugarcane to refined sugar. Cachaça in comparison is made from the crushed sugar cane, which gives a bit more body and a slight more alcohol burn. This great liquor creates an ideal platform for one of the most spectacular summer cocktails. It’s created simply with the addition of a bit of sugar to help the medicine go down and some lime to add balance.
First you need a good Cachaça, I suggest Sagatiga Pura. This Cachaça is made from sugarcane juice that is pressed within 24 hours of the cutting and made with water from a pure underground spring, creating a liquor with a clean, slightly sweet taste is ideal for fantastic cocktails.
To make this great drink, just take a mixing glass and add a half of a fresh-cut lime, cut into quarters combined with 1 ½ teaspoons of pure cane sugar or ¾ ounce of simple syrup in a mixing glass, and muddle (or smash) the limes with the sugar and then add your Cachaça and then top it with a mixing tin and shake it. This will combine the flavors and add a bit of water to the drink, which will round out the rougher edges and make it more approachable. After you shake it, dump the entire contents into a chilled rocks glass.
If you find Cachaça a bit too powerful for your palate, feel free to make a Caipiroska, which is the same drink made with vodka, or a Caipirissima, which is made with rum.
Done right, you might just find yourself making a couple at a time in order to kick back in the hammock and relax for the afternoon. If you find yourself looking for a quick cocktail break while shopping at the Westfield patios, then stop into Roman Holiday Wine Lounge and let me do the work for you.
Roman Holiday Wine Lounge is located at the Shops at the Patios (next to Macy’s), 24201 West Valencia Boulevard, Suite 3860 in Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-799-7221, email: chris@rhwinelounge.com and visit our website at www.rhwinelounge.com.