Raspberry Caipirinha

Raspberry Caipirinha
Rob Lawson/Photolibrary/Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

For a fun change, try a raspberry caipirinha. This quick cocktail recipe has everything that's great about the original caipirinha, it simply replaces the lime with fresh raspberries. It's a delicious way to enjoy berry season and so easy to mix up that anyone can do it!

Just like any caipirinha, cachaça is the liquor of choice for this recipe. It is often thought of as Brazil's version of rum, but instead of distilling the spirit from molasses, cachaça is made from pure sugar cane juice. It's not as sweet as rum and pairs perfectly with fresh fruits, which is why the caipirinha is such a popular drink.

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 fresh raspberries, plus more for garnish

  • 1 dash freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 2 ounces cachaça

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place the raspberries and lime juice into an old-fashioned glass and sprinkle with the sugar.

  3. Muddle well.

  4. Fill the glass with ice, then add the cachaça.

  5. Stir well.

  6. Garnish with a raspberry. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Cachaça is becoming easier to find as exports increase. Explore various brands, but be aware that a top-shelf cachaça always produces a better caipirinha because there's nothing in the drink to mask any impurities in the spirit.
  • The original caipirinha is made with between 1/2 teaspoon and 2 teaspoons of sugar, according to taste. The lime in that recipe definitely needs a little extra sweetness. The raspberries in this version are naturally sweet, so you won't need quite as much sugar. However, do add a little more if you want the drink a little sweeter.
  • While the caipirinha is most often stirred, you can shake it. To do so, secure a mixing tin over top of the serving glass and give it a quick shake up and down (do not tilt it like a cocktail shaker) while holding onto both vessels. This doesn't work for every glass because some old-fashioned glasses don't have a wide enough rim to get a tight seal with the tin. Do a test with water before trying this method so you don't spill your drink everywhere.
  • The other option is to make the drink in a cocktail shaker, shake it, then pour the entire contents into your glass. It's not traditional, though, as the caipirinha is typically made directly in the glass.

Recipe Variations

  • The raspberry caipirinha can also be shaken after muddling and strained into a cocktail glass for a refreshing raspberry-flavored caipirini.
  • Add more fruits to the muddle for extra flavor. Other berries like blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are excellent choices, though you can also toss in a few lime wedges.
  • Ramp up the raspberry flavor by pouring half a shot of raspberry liqueur (e.g., Chambord). Raspberry-flavored vodka or rum can also give it a nice kick.

How Strong Is a Raspberry Caipirinha?

Like the whiskey old-fashioned, when making a caipirinha you're essentially just dressing up a straight shot of liquor and diluting it a bit with ice. That means this is not a light drink and its alcohol content will be slightly lower than the liquor you pour. Generally, with an 80-proof cachaça, the raspberry caipirinha will weigh in around 29 percent ABV (58 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
154 Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 154
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 25%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 29mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)