Rhyme and Reason Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/13/21
Rhyme and Reason Cocktail With Aperol

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Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

When you're looking for an autumn-worthy cocktail for cachaça, the rhyme and reason recipe is a great choice. While most of its ingredients are more associated with tropical drinks, the cinnamon-infused simple syrup gives it the cool weather taste.

The recipe was created by Sean Kenyon of Steuben’s in Denver, Colorado, for Boca Loca Cachaça. The Brazilian liquor that's closely related to rum—made from straight sugar cane rather than other sugar products—is a great base for the cocktail's combination of citrus and cinnamon. Yet, cachaça is not the only special spirit in the recipe as you'll also need Aperol, a bitter orange-flavored aperitif. That single ingredient transforms the mix into an amazing drink for any fall dinner party.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the cachaça, Aperol, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, and lime juice.

  3. Shake very well.

  4. Strain over fresh ice in a collins glass.

  5. Garnish with a lime wheel. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • This is a great recipe to use as you explore new bottles of cachaça. The liquor is as diverse as any other, and each distiller puts their own spin on the traditional methods. You'll also find a lot of cachaças that use different types of wood barrels for aging, which only adds to the depth of possible flavors.
  • Cinnamon syrup is a very popular drink sweetener used for cocktails, coffee, and tea. You can find it from most of the major beverage syrup companies. It's also very easy to make cinnamon syrup at home with sugar, water, and a cinnamon stick.
  • Fresh citrus juices are going to produce the best-tasting cocktail. For the lime, simply squeeze half of one fruit directly into the shaker (use the other half to cut the garnish). The average grapefruit can yield up to 5 or 6 ounces, more than enough for a few drinks.

Recipe Variations

  • Adjust the citrus juices and cinnamon syrup to taste and the cachaça you ultimately decide to pour. Some may do well with a little less grapefruit or sweetener, while others could use an extra dose of lime.
  • Try this cocktail with an aged rum instead of cachaça. The taste will be nearly the same, though you will notice some subtle differences between the two spirits.

How Strong Is a Rhyme and Reason Cocktail?

This cocktail holds a ton of flavor inside, but it's surprisingly light on the alcohol. If you follow the recipe, it will shake up to around 14 percent ABV (28 proof). That places it right in line with the average wine, only this drink offers a far more intriguing taste experience.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
204 Calories
0g Fat
26g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 204
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 36mg 179%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 138mg 3%
*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.)

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