While many of us were winding down during Labor Day weekend, others were dancing the night away to celebrate a special holiday for the city that has brought us the best in nightlife and the barely there bikini. Yesterday, Brazilians celebrated the country’s Independence Day, giving the world another reason to send summer off with a bang. Even though you were probably too busy throwing a Labor Day fiesta or soaking up the sun while relaxing by the beach, you can still bring a taste of Brazil to your glass. After all, who wouldn’t want to pay tribute to the country that has given us everything from carnaval to Gisele Bundchen? Head to your bar, raise a glass of delicious drinks from Rio, and celebrate Brazil’s Independence Day in style. Saudé!
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Brazilian Ricky
Madonna may have her hunky Jesus Luz, but we’re settling for a different kind of boy toy which happens to look just as good as any model. The Brazilian Ricky is zesty, sparkling, and bubbly, while bursting with juicy lemons, limes, and oranges. However, what makes this citrus elixir stand out is VeeV, the world’s first spirit made from Brazil’s national fruit. Not only does acai offers 50% more antioxidants than a pomegranate, but its rich flavor can only be described as chocolate dipped in red wine. Could it get any better? Actually, yes. For every bottle sold, VeeV donates a $1 to the preservation of the Brazilian rainforest. The Material Girl won’t be the only one ruling the world!
Ingredients
2 oz. VeeV Açai Spirit
1 Lemon Slice
1 Lime Slice
1 Orange Slice
3 oz. Tonic
1Citrus Wheel
Preparation
Shake VeeV and citrus wedges with ice and pour into a highball glass adding additional ice if necessary. Top with tonic. Stir and garnish with the citrus wheel.
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Brazilian Thyme
Herbal drinks are all the rage at trendy bars across the country, especially since certain seasonings can enhance the flavors of fresh fruit, while being easy to combine. For a number that’s smooth and green, a Brazilian Thyme is your best bet. Sure, thyme isn’t the most exotic herb one can find in the kitchen cabinet, but it’s strong, peppery tastes adds more depth and body to any recipe. Best of all, thyme enhances alcohol, without making it overwhelming for any patron to savor. It’s sharp, hearty, smoky elements will awaken you faster than any latte can, which means more time to hit the dance floor and less worrying over getting a hangover!
Ingredients
2 oz. VeeV Açai Spirit
½ Orange
2 Lemon Wedges
Thyme
Preparation
Muddle lemon wedges, orange, and thyme in a mixing glass. Add VeeV and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake drink and pour into a glass.
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Rainforest on the Rocks
Speaking of herbal drinks, we’re going to honor Brazil’s Independence Day with some mint, the key ingredient for a cocktail that anyone will love. It’s mellow, refreshing, and sweet notes are powerful, fiery, and tangy, just like the women from down south! Rainforest on the Rocks is a cool thirst quencher that can surely captivate any angel off the runway and into your bar just for a sip. When mint, a pinch of sugar, and watermelon juice is added, the result is an earthy, decadent, lip smacking treat that’ll leave your breath fresh and ready to pucker up. They don’t call Brazilians sexy for nothing!
Ingredients
2 oz. VeeV Açai Spirit
1.5 oz. Fresh watermelon Juice
8 Sprigs of fresh mint
1 Lime wedge
A Dash of Sugar
Preparation
Muddle the mint sprigs and the lime wedge in a mixing glass. Add Veev, watermelon juice, sugar, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake drink and pour into a glass.
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Banana Batida
One of the best reasons to visit Brazil anytime of the year is to savor the creamy batida, a sweet escape that’ll make you feel as if it’s summertime all over again. The luxurious frozen treat is similar to a pineapple-based Pina Colada, except they’re blended with thick chunks of fruit, condensed milk, and a potent sugarcane liquor known as cachaca. Batidas are commonly prepared with coconut milk, but while the tropical nut may be difficult to find during the fall, bananas are a healthy, inexpensive alternative that makes this adult milkshake more luscious and irresistible. Well renowned mixologist Junior Merino, who designed this variation of a Banana Batida, ensures us that one drop will kick off any weekend fiesta. Need we say more?
Ingredients
1 ½ oz Leblon
1/3 Banana
1 ½ oz. Condensed milk
1 oz Orange juice
1 ½ oz. Castries
¼ oz. Maple syrup
Cinnamon
Preparation
Add all ingredients into a blender with 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth. Serve in a tall glass. Grate some cinnamon on top.
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Guava Rose
We first introduced the top floral cocktails during the summertime when we craved for a fragrant, jeweled hued number made popular by supermodels during Fashion Week. In honor of the many beautiful Brazilian muses that have graced the covers of magazines, we’re serving a Guava Rose, which incorporates tender, succulent slices of guava, a tropical fruit that’s often compared to a pear-strawberry hybrid, resulting in a faintly bitter-meets-candied slivers that excites tastes buds. Of course, you can’t have a Guava Rose without syrup from the flowers of romance, making the cocktail crisp, perfumed, and above all, mouthwatering. Make a statement with this bubble gum pink floral punch that’s model-approved.
Ingredients
2 oz. Leblon Cachaça
¾ oz. Guava puree
1 ½ oz Monin Rose syrup
2 Rose petals
¾ oz fresh lime juice
Preparation
Add all ingredients into a blender with 1 cup of ice and blend. Serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with a Rose petal.
Top Brazilian Independence Day Cocktail: Strawberry Caipirinha Carafe
No Brazilian Independence Day celebration is complete without a Caipirinha, the country’s national cocktail. We first told you about Caipirinhas earlier this year and how it’s powerful enough to make a bald-headed Britney look like a Sexy Scarlett. Today, Caipirinhas still reign supreme in nightlife, nearly out beating its Cuban cousin, the Mojito. It’s even being served as a replacement to the usual mimosas during brunch! We still can’t get enough of this other-worldly, minty, carnaval starter, which is why we’re choosing to go wild with a Strawberry Caipirinha Carafe, a sweeter, quicker alternative that’s perfectly chilled, wonderfully arousing, and overflowing with hearty chunks of heart-shaped strawberries. If strawberries and champagne can instantly cause passion between two lovers, imagine what a Strawberry Caipirinha Carafe can do on a sultry, hot night in Rio…or in your bedroom!
Ingredients
1 ½ cups Leblon Cachaça
2/3 cup Superfine sugar
2 Limes cut in eights
12 large Strawberries cut into chunks
Ice
Preparation
Muddle the limes, strawberries and sugar in the pitcher Add a small scoop of ice to the mixture Add the cachaça and stir well. Pour the mixture into rocks glasses filled with ice. Make sure to get some of the fruit into each glass.
