What is the country of origin for the Caipirinha cocktail?

Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail and the word Caipirinha is the diminutive of the word “caipira” referring to meaning someone from the countryside (rural parts of south-central Brazil) in Brazilian Portuguese, similar to the US term “hillbilly”.

Caipira is a two-gender noun. The diminutive mostly-refers to the drink, in which case it is a feminine noun. Described by some as a little cup of summer, the refreshing cocktail translates to a ‘little countryside drink’.

According to historians, the Caipirinha was invented by landowning farmers (from the Piracicaba region of the State of São Paulo) during the 19th century as a local drink for events and parties. Other theories hold that the drink originated around 1918 in the region of Alentejo in Portugal to aid patients cope with the Spanish flu.

Another theory is that the Caipirinha is based on Poncha, an alcoholic drink from Madeira, Portugal, a version of which the main ingredient is Aguardente de Cana (also made from sugar cane).

The world stage

With the increased availability of first-rate brands of cachaça outside Brazil, the rise in popularity of the Caipirinha comes as no surprise and the inclusion of the drink as an official contemporary classic cocktail by The International Bartenders Association has simply continued the Caipirinha’s rise in popularity.

In spite of being a Brazilian cocktail, the popularity of the Caipirinha has created an undeniable global classic, and similar to the Carnival, we remain forever indebted to the Brazilians!

Follow this easy recipe to make a tasty Caipirinha in the comfort of your home.

A case of making do with what you have

The White Negroni was not so much an invention of creativity, but rather the result of having to make do with what you have. The story goes that Nick Blacknell, then the director of Plymouth Gin, was travelling from England to France (Bordeaux to be precise) to attend the 2011 Vinexpo, a spirits exhibition.

He was accompanied by London bartender Wayne Collins who was there to compete in the Drinks International cocktail competition. They settled into a guesthouse in Médoc, the day before the event.

Médoc, a small town, wrapped in the blazing summer sun, had Blacknell craving an ice-cold Negroni; but with no promising bars in sight, Blacknell, with Collins in tow, turned to the local liquor stores in search of the necessary ingredients (gin, Campari and vermouth) to make one (or a likely a couple).

Once inside the store, Collin proposed to make the Negronis with French ingredients as it seemed more appropriate considering their location. Like two youngsters on an adventure, they rummaged through a number of potential French replacements.

Blacknell suggested (as much as expressed his fondness) of Suze, a bitter aperitif to replace the Campari, and Lillet Blanc, a wine-based aperitif, to replace the sweet vermouth. Of course, there was plenty of Plymouth gin back at the house, so the base spirit remained unchanged.

Back home, and after consuming an unconfirmed number of Negroni’s, Blacknell suggested they simply call the drink a White Negroni cocktail because of its clear presentation, and it would be easy to present and market it as such to the trade. But it was more than just that; two decades later it’s safe to say that, at least for the bitter aperitivo-loving world, it has become one of the most famous modern variations on the classic Italian cocktail.

White Negroni cocktail recipe

Enough talk, how about you make your own signature White Negroni cocktail! You will need:

• 45 ml gin
• 30 ml Lillet (pronounced lee-lay) Blanc
• 15 ml Suze gentian liqueur

Add the gin, Lillet Blanc and Suze into a mixing glass with ice, stir for 15 to 20 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a lemon twist.

Previously enjoyed (predominantly by classic cocktail drinkers), the boozy and bitter White Negroni cocktail has slowly become a favourite on the drinks menu.

Not to overemphasise the obvious, but there are very few cocktails that can boast an entire week (aptly called Negroni Week) dedicated to it on the cocktail calendar! If you don’t believe us, take a look for yourself…

Follow this easy recipe to make your own Negroni cocktail. 1st Principles offers a variety of unique handcrafted ginsperfectly attuned to turn your Negroni into a memorable affair!

Black Russian cocktail recipe

So how does one make the mysterious Black Russian cocktail? You will need:

• 2 tots 1st Principles Organic Vodka
• 1 tot Coffee Liqueur

Add the vodka and liqueur into a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.

Now sip your cocktail while mysteriously peering from under the brim of your hat and dark glasses!

For more detailed steps, follow this easy recipe to make your own Black Russian cocktail.

What is in a Tequila Sunrise cocktail?

This cocktail’s longstanding history has made sure it’s had its fair share of variation! It is honestly fair to ask what exactly is in a Tequila Sunrise cocktail.

The Tequila Sunrise is served unmixed on the rocks by first blending Tequila and orange juice, and then pouring grenadine syrup on top. It’s the variation in the cocktail’s colour that resembles a sunrise with the bottom red, seemingly disappearing into the yellow “sunrise” over the horizon.

The original fresh and fruity Tequila Sunrise contained tequila, creme de cassis (liqueur), lime juice, and soda water, and dates back to the 1930s when Gene Sulit, of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, first combined these ingredients.

In 1970 Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice, while working as young bartenders at the Trident in California, created the more modern version of the cocktail as we know it today, but it always kept its red and yellow hue.

The classic recipe

Why not try to make your own Tequila Sunrise cocktail by trying our recipe below; you will need:

• 3 tots (75ml) Tequila (we recommend Leonista)
• 6 tots (150ml) orange juice
• 1 tot (25ml) grenadine syrup
• 1 cup of ice

Pour the orange juice and Tequila in a glass over ice. Add the grenadine cocktail syrup. (Do not mix the syrup with the rest of the blend as this will spoil the sunrise look.)

Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Now sit back and enjoy the sunrise!