Celebrate Carnival with a Caipirinha recipe

Colin Joliat Staff Writer

While Mardi Gras gets most of the attention in the US, it would be a shame to overlook the glory of Carnival. The people of Brazil know how to drink and party as well as anyone in the world. Don’t believe me? The country has a national cocktail, the Caipirinha.

If you want to put a little spin on the tradition, I have three different recipes for you. I attended an amazing charity bartending contest at Texas de Brazil this week, and the challenge was to create an interesting variation of the Caipirinha while still staying true to the spirit of the cocktail. Three of Chicago’s finest bartenders each mixed their drink on behalf of an organization, and to the winner went the spoils (ticket revenue). While my drink of choice, The Latinha, and charity of choice, Open Heart Magic, didn’t win, it was still a great way to spend a night. Here are the recipes if you are feeling adventurous.

The Latinha
Benjamin Newby (Underground)

2 1/2 oz Cachaca
1 lime
1 tsp of cane sugar
2 tsp of Tajin
3 x fresh pineapple chunks (or one pineapple spear)
Muddled bit of egg white
1/2 cup of ice
Shake. Dump into 12 oz rocks glass; top with mandarin and lime organic soda
Garnish with a rind on pineapple triangle.

The Bedford Caipirinha
Pete Gugni (The Bedford)

2 oz Cachaça
1/2 lime, cubed
1 bar spoon of Turbinado sugar
1/2 oz Muscato
2 dashes Bitter Truth orange bitters
Mix ingredients in shaker; serve.

Literate Caipirinha - winner
Josh Pearson (Sepia)

In a shaker glass muddle 1/2 lime, then add:
1.5 oz Leblon Cachaca
3/4 oz Passionfruit Syrup
1/4 oz Coconut Cream
Dash Angostura bitters
Shake and serve dirty in rocks glass. Sprinkle grated nutmeg over the top.

Recipes courtesy of 312DiningDiva

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