Well, I'm kicking myself because apparently June 12th is International Cachaça Day and I missed it. (Cachaça is the Brazilian style of rum, used in Brazil's national drink, the Caipirinha.)

But it's probably better to have 'boozy' celebrations on a Friday, anyway, so ... Salud!

Caipirinha

INGREDIENTS:

1 lime, quartered
2 tsp fine sugar
2 oz Cachaça

PREPARATION:
Place the lime wedges and sugar into an old-fashioned glass.
Muddle well to create a paste.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Pour in the Cachaça.
Stir well.

You can sub vodka for the Cachaça and it becomes a Caipiroska or use rum and it's then a Caipirissima.

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This cocktail also sounds appealing.

Brazilian Rose

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Cachaça
3 oz guava juice
splash of triple sec

PREPARATION:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a rose petal, if desired.

(Guava juice is sometimes just a bunch of sugar and food colouring with a touch of guava, I'd try to find a quality guava juice or maybe guava nectar.)