A Mojito Alternative: the Caipirinha
Tired of mojitos? Had enough of that sweet, tangy, minty deliciousness? After making far too many of our mojitos, I began searching for an alternative, and thankfully, finding one was easy. It’s called a caipirinha (kaip-eh-reen-ya). It’s Brazilian, simple to make, and isn’t a huge departure from the mojito, making it the perfect, slightly under-the-radar replacement.
Here’s what you’ll need to make one:
- A muddler
- Crushed ice
- one-half of a lime, cut into wedges
- approx. 2 tsp of sugar (more or less to taste)
- approx. 2.5oz of Cachaça (vodka or any non-spiced rum would also work)*
…and here’s how you make it (you can do this directly in a glass if you like, but I prefer to do it in a shaker. Once I’m done shaking, rather than straining, I empty the entire contents of the shaker into the glass):
- Muddle together** the lime wedges and sugar.
- Fill glass with the crushed ice.
- Add booze, mix, and serve.
And that’s it. Simple, tart, slightly sweet, and delicious. If someone you know likes mojitos and is looking for a change of pace, steer them toward the caipirinha. And while you’re at it, make one for yourself. You can thank me later.
* When made with vodka, this drink is called a caipiroshka. When made with rum, it’s called a caipiríssima.
** If you aren’t familiar with muddling, check out our mojito post for an explanation.
