Pepper Basil Caipirinha

Step 4 Adding the Cachaca!

There are many cachacas on the market and if you've tried it and don't like that spirit, it very well may be you didn't get a good one. Some of the cheaper older ones have a very harsh taste. Beleza Pura is very smooth, even a little oaky. Some of the higher end, darker ones are very sipable like a good tequila or scotch. But beleza is my choice here. Add 3 oz.

Next, an ingredient that's often not taken seriously but should be... fill with lots of ice. Legendary bartender Dale DeGroff says the colder and harder the ice, the better.

Think about it: as the ice is shaken, it melts and becomes an intricate part of your drink. You don't want to add the flavor of your freezer... yummm freezer burn.