Caipirissima

Steps

1. 1

   Take one whole lime and cut off both ends, then slice it into eight wedges, discarding the tough center core if it is too woody. Drop the wedges into the bottom of your Old Fashioned glass.

   

   !Leaving the tough white core in makes the drink bitter instead of pleasantly tart.

2. 2

   Pour two barspoons of sugar directly over the lime wedges in the glass. Take your muddler and press down firmly on the limes, twisting as you push, to extract the juice and mix it with the sugar until the sugar starts to dissolve into a wet paste.

   

   !Pounding the limes too hard shreds the peel and releases bitter oils from the rind.

3. 3

   Measure out 60ml of white rum and pour it over the muddled lime and sugar mixture. The rum will begin to mix with the lime juice and dissolve the remaining sugar granules.

   

   !Using a dark or heavily aged rum will mask the bright, fresh lime character.

4. 4

   Fill the glass to the top with crushed ice, making sure it sits above the liquid line. Take your barspoon and churn the ice up from the bottom, pulling the lime and rum mixture through the ice for about ten seconds until the outside of the glass frosts over.

   ~10s

   

   !Stirring too gently leaves the sugar settled at the bottom instead of mixed into the drink.

5. 5

   Top the glass with a little more crushed ice to form a slight mound at the rim. Place a lime wheel on top for garnish and serve immediately while it is frosty.

   

   !Letting the ice melt too much before serving waters down the punchy lime flavor.