The caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil, but they're sort of new to the US because good cachaca - the main ingredient - became available here only recently.

Discovered them in, of all places, Munich. Then I noticed some bars here make them. Really delicious, but so very deadly.

Anyone else a fan?

Yes, although you have to be careful for the reason you just described. If they do not have real cachaca (distilled from sugar cane) sometimes when you order one you get rum. Not nearly as tasty. I think the sugar is also different, not brown sugar, but closer to that then regular white. When made right they are awesome.

OK, you're speaking Portugese. Now in ENGLISH. What are you talking about (I admit I am ignorent of the topic)

Yes, very big fan--though nothing compares to having one in Ipanema or Leblon after a hard day's work of looking at the lovely garotas with their bronzed tans and g-string bikins.

Big fan of them but I'm desperately picky.

The ratio of sugar to lime is crucial. There also seems to be some debate about whether sugar solution should be used or whther regular sugar should be crushed with the limes. Personally I go with solution I can't stand my drinks crunchy. My sister (bless her youthful ignorance) is a crusher, though she did work in a cocktail bar, so I'm not really in a position to argue. What do others think?

I love these, however I have never had a "Real" one (with cachaca). I read that white rum or very high end vodka is OK too, so I used grey goose. And yes.. they are WAY to easy to drink for how much alcohol is in them. They sneak up on you!

Big fan of cachaca. The number of variations the Brazilians have for the caipirinha is fantastic. Until recently, I only found bottles of cachaca in the city. They've just started popping into liquor stores around Queens and Long Island though.

Problem as I see it is that few bartenders know how to make them perfectly. You can always get a perfect martini from a knowledgeable bartender, but since caipirinhas as sort of new - at least in Denver - bartenders aren't consistent or tend to experiment a bit too much.

For the record, the cigar bar at the Brown Palace hotel uses syrup, which I think works better.

Last night I was there and had few. Caipirinhas go well with PSD4's, it turns out. Not so well with Diplomatico 4's. (the latter is too leathery.)

I love these and make them at home all the time. Here is a short video showing how they are made, although I prefer to shake them at the end instead of just stirring so that more sugar is dissolved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNjYzMm8kWQ

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OK, you're speaking Portugese. Now in ENGLISH. What are you talking about (I admit I am ignorent of the topic)

Doc it is a delightful beverage made with the following:

Cachaca - which is a spirit distilled from sugar cane. Not readily available in the states which is why many use rum and/or vodka.

Fresh Lime Juice

Sugar - The ones I had in Costa Rica used a darker sugar and it was delicious. I have no idea what it was.

Muddle Limes and sugar, add lots of ice and Cachaca. Stir. Enjoy. Repeat as your body will tolerate.

I think that dark sugar is muscovado:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovado

Cachaca is even available here in the People's Republic of PA, where the government sells all the booze. Discovered this drink in Sao Paulo in 1995. Quite popular in Paraguay too.

man this is one delicious drink.. I had it the fiest time in cuba back in the late ninties... and fell in love with it...

it's a very refreshing drink (kind of like a mohito)

Hmm these sound interesting, but where can I get one? I checked bevmo and they dont appear to sell Cachaça

So, I know it is not Cachaca, but 10 Cane Rum is "created from the first pressing ... of virgin cane", and is a pure sugar cane rum.

I have never had Cachaca. Would 10 Cane pass as a reasonable substitute? Or am I way off base on this one?

A friend turned me on to 10 Cane, and I have been using it for Mojitos lately. It is quite smooth.


**edit** I just read a detailed description of what Cachaca is. Nevermind my comment about the possible substitution. 10 Cane does make great Mojitos though...

I fell in love with these on my honeymoon in Cancun. However, I have yet to learn how to make a good one from home or find a bar that can make them.
FYI, when I kived in Ohio, Giant Eagle carried a couple different brands of cachaca.

This has been my fave drink for quite a few years now since I first had one in Playa del Carmen and I agree, cahacha is a must.

"Pitu Cachacha" was on LCBO's list for a while but have not seen it lately. I came across a case of it at one of Canada's official liquer outlets in Niagara Falls and bought the whole case. Do a search on "Pitu", interesting!
The drink is called a
caiparishka" when made with vodka.
There are many different ratios of ingredients that are used when mixing these, I always use about 25% soda water in the ones I make.

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man this is one delicious drink.. I had it the fiest time in cuba back in the late ninties... and fell in love with it...

Ditto!

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I think that dark sugar is muscovado:

Thanks! Anyone used this to make the caipirinha? I'm gonna see if I can locate some and use it next time. Sams wine (huge alcohol megastore) had several types of cachaca. I would guess places like Binnys would as well.

I picked up some muscovado sugar to try. It dissolves completely with no effort beyond muddling with lime. It's not quite as sweet as a caipirinha made with regular sugar and I think it has a smoother taste.

After extensive testing I prefer the muscovado caipirinha but my girlfriend prefers one made with white sugar so your mileage may vary.

All of the Brazilian places I've been to in NYC use white sugar but that's probably just out of convenience or maybe because the muscovado caipirinha looks kind of funny (brownish) if you are used to the white sugar version.