Emeril's Caipirinha

This is Emeril's version of the national cocktail of Brazil, which is especially refreshing during warm weather. Sort of like a Brazilian Mojito (without the mint)! The key to making it strictly Brazilian is to cachaca, which is Brazilian brandy made from sugarcane.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3  limes
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 1⁄2 quarts  ice cubes
• 1  cup cachaca or 1  cup rum or 1  cup vodka
•  lime slices (optional) or   sugarcane swizzle  stick (optional)

Directions

1. Cut each lime in half crosswise, then cut each half into 8 pieces. Place 12 pieces of lime in each of four double old-fashioned glasses (or other 12-oz. glasses). Sprinkle 2 T. sugar into each glass.
2. Using muddler (or the butt end of a large wooden spoon), mash limes into bottom of glass until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Fill each glass with 1-1/2 cups ice and 1/4 cup cachaca.
3. One glass at a time, transfer contents of glass to cocktail shaker; invert glass over shaker to act as lie. Shake glass and shaker together to combine sugar and cachaca, shaking until well chilled. Lift glass from shaker and pour contents back into glass. Repeat process with remaining three glasses.