Going to Brazil! Lucky You! It is the land of carnivals, music and of course cocktails. Various Brazilian cocktails are worth trying. From nutty concoctions to fermented pineapple wines, there are a lot of options to try. This vast country has many drinks in its region. It has more to offer than Caipirinha! Take a good bottle of Cachaca and try some cocktails on your own.
You need not dig deeply into drinking habits before bumping into Brazilian Cocktails. Caipirinha is Brazil’s national drink and comes with different variations. As Brazil has hot summers that last almost the whole year, various refreshing cocktails give relief in the hot weather. Let’s have a look at some Brazilian cocktails. Try them and enjoy summers with no worries.
Caipirinha
This is a national drink and classic beverage of Brazil. It can be found on cocktail menus across the globe. This cocktail comprises of cachaca, sugar, ice, and limes. Instead of cachaca, Brazilian firewater can also be used which a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made of sugarcane juice. It is aged in wooden barrels made from pay Handroanthus Amburana and Cariniana woods. Varieties of classic caipirinha are available such as:
- caipirosca (in which cachaça is replaced by vodka)
- sakerinha (made with saké)
- caipiríssima (in which rum replaces the cachaça)
These are tasty and refreshing. Use of cachaca gives woodier and sweeter flavor to the drink. Although it had originated in Portugal during the early 20th century, still Brazilizn use it to ward off common colds.
Quentão
This is wonderfully warm, spicy and sweet. It is a fabulous vacation alternative to spiked cider or mulled wine. Not every Brazilian drink contains ice. This hot drink is popular in Brazilian winter. It is one of the cocktails that are popular in the Feast of St. John.
Recipe
- Ingredients include cloves, ginger, cinnamon, orange and lemon juice mixed with cachaca.
- It is then heated and boiled for ten minutes. In South Brazil, wine is used instead of cachaca.
Caipifruta
This is a variation of caipirinha that is a popular Brazilian cocktail. Instead of lime, this cocktail uses fruits such as kiwi, passion fruit, strawberries or carambola. A traditional variation uses only one fruit and vodka. For extra flavor, condensed milk (50ml) or cream (50ml) can be added. However, then fruit drinks are called batidas (a cocktail made from fruit, alcohol and creamy element).
Recipe
- Mix your favorite fruits and all other ingridients.
- Add 50 ml vodka & 10 ice cubes
Colada Brazil
This yummy recipe is Brazil’s pride and it takes on the pina colada. Ingredients include a mix of white rum, cachaca, pineapple juice milk, and coconut cream. It may not sound different from pina colada, but cachaca makes a big difference to the flavor.
Recipe
- Blend ¾ oz white rum, ¾ oz Cream, 1 ½ oz Cachaca, ¾ oz Coconut Cream, 2 oz Pineapple and Juice.
- Add Crushed ice to the shaker
- Pour the cocktail in a highball glass over crushed ice and enjoy.
Brazil 66
This cocktail is similar to orange Caipirinha as it consists of similar ingredients. Use Cachaca, Cointreau (1 ½ shot), Fresh lime juice (1/2 shot), Fresh orange juice (1/2 shot), and sugar syrup (1/2 shot) in the preparation of this cocktail.
Recipe
- Put all the ingredients together with ice in a shaker and shake.
- Strain the drink in double old fashioned and garnish with a lime wedge.
Paulista
The cocktail has many variations. This one comes from Brazil that combines cachaca (1 1/3 oz), blueberries (12), blueberry liqueur (1/2 oz), lime juice (3/z oz), lavender syrup (1/2 oz), and ice. This combination creates a modern gem with hints of blueberries and lavender.
Recipe
- Collect all ingredients
- Wet the rim of the cocktail glass using lavender sugar and lime juice
- Muddle blueberries, blueberry liquer and lavender syrup in a cocktail shaker
- Shake well and strain it in the prepared cocktail glass
Brazilian Cocktail
Serve this exotic drink to your guests and become their beloved. The combination of Van Gogh acai-blueberry vodka and lemonade gives a wonderful hopping drink.
Recipe
- Pour Van Gogh Acaci blueberry vodka along with lemonade into a cocktail shaker.
- Then add some ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain this drink into a martini glass and garnish the drink with a lemon wheel.
Cucumber lemongrass Caipirinha
This is a unique combination of flavors. Add some extra dose of excitement and freshness to a refreshing cocktail. Add muddled cucumber and lemongrass to make it hop. This is an irresistible drink.
Recipe
- Peel and cut the limes
- Add lemongrass, cucumber and sugar to Vitamix
- Pulse it on low speeds for 20-30 seconds
- Add alcohol and ice and pulse till the ice gets crushed
Bossa Nova
The drink got its name after Brazil’s jazz-like smooth music. Enjoy the refreshing cocktail while listening to some Bossa nova music for a real Brazilian experience.
Recipe
- Combination of gin and quince.
- Use Lemon juice, sugar syrup and thin slices of cucumber in this drink.
Caju Amigo
Caju Amigo translates to “friendly cashew,” this may sound bizarre, but it is a delicious drink.
Recipe
- This simple drink is a mix of two ingredients cachaca and cashew nuts juice.
- Blend them and serve the drink in a glass.
- Some bars place whole cashew nut on the tongue, and people swallow it together with a full shot of cachaca.
Espanhola
Espanhola means Spanish. This drink is the Brazilian Version of sangria that comprises of pineapples, oranges, red wine, ice, and sugar. The version of this drink combines condensed milk and coconut milk and replacing the sugar with honey. Traditionally this is served inside a pineapple fruit. Spanish is always tasty no matter the time, no matter the place, it is always good. The version of this drink with red wine will make you crazy, and it is the most popular variation.