Sake + Starfruit “Caipirinha” Cocktail

I have blogged about making a sake cocktail before. New to the sake world, I am enjoying its versatility and flavorful notes. This lovely cocktail is based on the National drink in Brazil called a Caipirinha cocktail traditionally made with cachaça ( also known as aguardiente, pinga, caninha), which is a distilled spirit, made from fermented sugarcane juice, known as the Brazilian version of rum.

The standard Caipirinha recipe is incredibly simple, requiring only three ingredients: lime, sugar, and cachaça. If you’ve never tried one, you should. Made in a similar way to a mojito, it’s a refreshing drink for warmer months such as Spring. This is a lighter, more modern twist on a Caipirinha. I use sake instead of rum and a combination of Meyer lemon and starfruit for a citrus punch. I may be biased, but it’s a winner.

For those that are unfamiliar, starfruit is a star-shaped tropical fruit with subtle sweet and sour flavor. Native to the Malayan Peninsula and cultivated in many parts of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and China. Considered a low-calorie fruit loaded with vitamin C. Starfruit has an impressive list of essential nutrients and antioxidants making it a great cocktail fruit option in my eyes. In this tasty drink I play upon the mojito-style mixing approach by muddling fresh basil leaves, instead of mint, to bring out a nice herbal note which I think is perfect for the start of Spring.