Refreshing and easy to make, the cocktail contains fresh lime juice, sugar and cachaça—a spirit as central to Brazilian identity as samba, soccer and carnival. The Caipirinha is easy to make and can be constructed right in the glass, but its build instructions are exacting. Lime juice and simple syrup won’t get the job done: The drink specifically calls for lime wedges and finely granulated sugar. Muddling the limes with abrasive sugar helps to release not only the fruit’s juice, but also the rich, aromatic oils from the peel. In a double rocks glass, muddle the lime wedges and sugar. Fill the glass with ice, add the cachaça, and stir briefly. Garnish with a lime wheel.

1 lime, cut into wedges

2 teaspoons sugar

2 ounces cachaça (such as Abelha Prata Organic Cachaça, or Pitu Cachaça)

Garnish: lime wheel