Summer Botanical Cocktails: Rio Edition!
We’re celebrating the Summer Games with Brazilian Cocktails – won’t you join us?!
Last week we were wrapped up in weddings which resulted in our Wedding Edition of this fun little Botanical Cocktail series (did you like it, or what?!). This week, we cannot get enough of the Summer Olympics! Like, seriously, CAN. NOT. GET. ENOUGH! Totally obsessed with Simone Biles and Aly Raisman and the entire women’s gymnastics team. Completely love that Fiji just won their first medal. That judo girl is so awesome, and the divers blew us away. We want to be pretty much every one of the volleyball players when we grow up. And, um, the swimmers?! Yes please and thanks, we’ll take more of those. But as we settle in for the rest of the Rio games (who’s excited for Usain Bolt to hit the track?! Us, that’s who), we figured this was the best time possible to get into some yummy Brazilian cocktails!
This week we’ve rounded up two Brazilian cocktail recipes for you to sip on while you enjoy all the thrills and chills of Olympic competition. The first one goes along with our floral theme and comes via ProFlowers, the Brazilian Orchid. Topped with a gorgeous orchid garnish, and made with the Brazilian spirit Cachaça, this little lovely is pretty much Rio in a glass and we love it!
Brazilian Orchid
Here’s what you need…
2 oz Cachaça (might we suggest Leblon Cachaça?)
1 splash Raspberry Liqueur
2 oz pureed Lychee
Ice
Orchid
And here’s how you do it…
Place Cachaça, Raspberry Liqueur and Lychee into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake! Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with the orchid.
Note: Cachaça is a sugary spirit that is hugely popular in Brazil. In fact, 99% of the world’s consumption of Cachaça is enjoyed in Brazil! That said, it’s not as common in the good ol’ US of A, so before you head to your local liquor store, be sure to call ahead and make sure they carry it. If they don’t they will be able to direct you to someone that does! This note applies to our next cocktail as well…
Our bonus libation for the week is Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha. You knew we couldn’t do a post about Brazilian cocktails without this one, right?! This recipe and the pretty pictures are courtesy of The Wanderlust Kitchen (sounds like an amazing kitchen, if you ask us!).
Brazilian Caipirinha
Here’s what you need…
1 lime, cut into small pieces
2 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
3 oz Cachaça
Ice
And here’s how you do it…
Place lime pieces and brown sugar in glass and muddle like crazy. Take your muddling seriously – you’ll know you are done when there are no grains of sugar left and your class is filled with a pretty, caramel colored syrup.
Add Cachaça to the lime/brown sugar syrup and stir. Yes, it may seem like a lot of Cachaça, but we know you can handle it!
Top with plenty of ice and voilà – the most classic Brazilian cocktail around, the Caipirinha!
So there you have it, flower lovers – you’re officially ready to take in the remainder of the Summer Olympics Brazil-style! So kick back, throw off those Havaianas, enjoy one (or two or three) of these delicious Brazilian cocktails, and cheer on all your favorite athletes. If you can’t be in Rio for the fun, at least you can bring a little flavor of the “Cidade Maravilhosa” to your living room!
ABOUT AUTHOR
Toby Kassoy, was born and raised in Southern California. In her college years she went up to Eugene Oregon, where she first fell in love with floristry. Upon returning to Los Angeles, she spent 8 years working in the Entertainment industry, while all along, flowers were always tugging on her heartstrings. In 2004 she decided to leave her corporate job and open Lilla Bello, aptly named after the beautiful lilac bushes she remembers outside her kitchen window in Oregon.
