Caipiroska

Caipiroska: a Caipirinha built on vodka

A Caipiroska keeps the lime, sugar and crushed ice of a Caipirinha but swaps cachaça for vodka. Because vodka is neutral, the drink is cleaner and more direct: the lime is the whole story, with none of the grassy character cachaça brings. It is one of the easiest cocktails to build well, and one of the easiest to ruin.

A short list of ingredients

• 50 ml / 1.7 oz vodka — clean and unflavoured. A citrus-forward bottling works; a vanilla one does not.
• 1 whole lime, cut into wedges — the engine of the drink. Thin-skinned, heavy limes give more oil and juice.
• 2 tsp sugar, about 8 g — enough to soften the acid without turning it into a sweet sour.
• Crushed ice — chills faster and looks right; cubed ice dilutes more slowly.

Measures for one and six

Cut each lime into six wedges rather than halves. Smaller pieces release their oils faster and sit flatter, so you bruise less pith.

How strong is a Caipiroska?

Vodka at 40% ABV, diluted by lime juice, melted ice and a little sugar, lands the finished drink at roughly 14-16% ABV. One serve carries close to 20 ml of pure alcohol and around 130 kcal, most of it from the spirit rather than the sugar.

Muddling without the bitterness

Press the lime wedges and sugar in the glass with a muddler, twisting slightly, for 10-15 seconds. Stop as soon as the peel looks glossy and smells strongly of citrus. Shredding the white pith is what makes a Caipiroska taste sharp and medicinal, and no amount of sugar will hide it. Fill to the top with ice, pour the vodka over and stir for 10 seconds.

Variations and FAQ

• Caipirissima — white rum instead of vodka, rounder and sweeter.
• Caipirinha — the Brazilian original, made with cachaça.

Is a Caipiroska just a vodka Caipirinha?

Yes. It is the same template with vodka as the base spirit, which makes it milder and less aromatic than the cachaça version.

Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh limes?

You can, but you lose the oils from the peel that give the drink its perfume. If you must, use 30 ml of fresh juice and add a strip of zest.