Strawberry & Basil Caipirinha

Serve in a

Garnish:

Stirrer (spoon, wooden lolly stick or stick cut from sugar cane)

How to make:

1. Cut lime in half (from pole to pole) and then slice one of the halves into eight 3-4mm thick half-moon shaped segments and drop into the base of a robust rocks glass.

2. Add 3 bar spoons powdered caster sugar (or ½oz / 15ml sugar syrup 2:1) and MUDDLE.

3. Add strawberries and basil, and MUDDLE some more.

4. When sure fruit juice is fully extracted and the sugar dissolved, transfer the muddled fruit and sugar into serving glass (preferably a 30cl / 10oz hi-ball glass).

5. POUR cachaça (stored in the freezer) into the rocks glass (used to muddle) and swirl to rinse glass before pouring cachaça into serving glass. STIR to ensure all ingredients are well mixed.

6. Using an Ice Tapper, crack (rather than crush) four to five large ice cubes and drop into serving glass. STIR before topping with more ice and serve with a stirrer (but no straws).

Review:

Succulent ripe strawberries are delicious in a Caipirinha but so much better with basil.

History:

See Caipirinha history and other variations.

Alcohol content:

• 1.3 standard drinks
• 31.5% alc./vol. (63° proof)
• 18.9 grams of pure alcohol