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Cocktail History
The Winter Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pe-REEN-ya) is a creative cold-weather adaptation of Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha.
This modern version, popularized by Leblon Cachaça, stays true to the original’s use of cachaça, simple syrup, and lime but introduces seasonal twists with açai berry liqueur, tart cranberries, and fresh rosemary. These additions bring a unique depth and bitterness to the drink, complementing its natural tartness while giving it a festive flair ideal for winter gatherings.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cachaça: This is a spirit made in Brazil with fresh sugarcane juice and yeast, which are fermented and then distilled to develop a grassy, slightly funky flavor.
Açai Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with açaí berries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a fruity, slightly tart flavor.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.
Lime: This is a small, round, green citrus fruit that’s known for its tangy, acidic juice and aromatic zest.
Cranberries: This is a type of berry grown on low shrubs that has bright pink skin and tart, slightly bitter flavor.
Rosemary: This is an aromatic evergreen herb with needle-like leaves and a robust, piney, and slightly peppery flavor.
Brands I Used
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.
Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.
Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.
Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.
Muddler: This is a handheld bar tool with a thick handle and flat or textured end that’s used for crushing ingredients to release their flavors.
Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.
Tools I Used
- 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
- 🔗 OXO Steel Cocktail Muddler
- 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
- 🔗 I-MART Silver Metal Cocktail Pick Set
- 🔗 Libbey The Gats Rocks Glass
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright magenta pink color
• Aroma: Rosemary and funky rum notes
• Taste: Tart lime that mingles with slightly bitter açaí and cranberry
• Finish: Signature rum sweetness
Kendall’s Take: “Although the tartness was a little overbearing, this wintry version of the Cachaça-based Caipirinha was still quite tasty. I was really excited to see a use for my açaí berry liqueur too; I bought a bottle a year or two ago now and have never really found a good use for it. Its tangy flavor was a tasty match for the sugarcane rum. The only reason I likely won’t make this again, at least not this way, is because I am not a fan of citrus and berry chunks floating in my drinks. Feeling them on my tongue when I sip the drink takes me out of the moment too much. If the Winter Caipirinha were strained and maybe stretched a little with soda water, I’d make it again.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Leblon Cachaça, a Brazilian brand of rum.
Winter Caipirinha
Description
The Winter Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pe-REEN-ya) is a modern cocktail of unknown origin that was published by Leblon Cachaça, a Brazilian brand of rum. It's a cold-weather variation of the classic Caipirinha, the official drink of Brazil, and it calls for the original's cachaça, simple syrup, and lime template but pairs them with açai berry liqueur, cranberries, and rosemary, adding a unique bitterness to the already tart drink.
Ingredients
Method
Cut lime into three wedges.
Add lime wedges pulp side up, six cranberries, and one rosemary sprig to a shaker.
Using a muddler, gently muddle cranberries and rosemary sprig in lime slices for 5-7 seconds.
Add cachaça and açaí liqueur to shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Remove rosemary sprig, then pour into a lowball glass.
Garnish with remaining three cranberries and two rosemary sprigs.
