Caipirtweenha

This is a “tween”/teen “virgin” version of the Caipirinha.  I invented it to serve our (at the time) 11-year-old daughter whilst Margie and I were drinking the boozy version.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Club Soda
• 1 Lime
• 2 tbsp Ultrafine (Baker’s) Sugar (or Simple Syrup equivalent) (see notes)
• Liberal Splash of Sprite (or similar lemon-lime soda).
• Crushed ice

Instructions

1. Take a lime, cut it in half lengthwise, remove the white pith in the center.
2. Cut the lime half in half lengthwise, then cut laterally into four smaller wedges.
3. Put lime wedges in a lowball (“rocks” or “old-fashioned”) glass
4. Add sugar.
5. Muddle the lime and sugar.  Get as much juice out of the limes as you can without squeezing the bitter oils out of the rind.
6. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
7. Fill the glass with club soda (should be roughly 2 oz.).
8. Add a splash of Sprite
9. Mix well (ideally, use a larger glass or shaker over the top and shake well).
10. Garnish with lime slice (optional).

Notes

• It’s pronounced “cuy-per-tween-ya.”
• The amount of sugar is somewhat to taste.  Various recipes call for 1-3 tbsp. Simple syrup can be used, but part of the fun in a Caipirtweenha is a bit of unmuddled sugar at the bottom of the glass.
• Some folks swear by lime slices instead of wedges.
• For refills, I add a half-lime (since there’s usually plenty of juice left in the remainders) and another tbsp of sugar (ditto), muddle in the existing glass, then follow the rest of the recipe (club soda, liquor, Sprite).