">Photo by Julianna Kaiser on Unsplash

Toast to the Olympics Opening Ceremony!

When the 2016 Olympic Games kick off in Rio tonight, will you be ready? That is, will you have the appropriate Brazil-inspired cocktail in hand? To help you get ready for the festivities, we tapped ICE Director of Beverage Studies and mixology master Anthony Caporale to concoct a pair of cocktails inspired by the host country. With the recipes below, composed largely of Brazilian liquors and indigenous ingredients, you’ll be on your way to gold.

CaipiRio cocktail for olympics opening ceremony

CaipiRio

This old-school version of Brazil's most iconic cocktail, the caipirinha, harkens back to a time when honey was the preferred sweetener.

Ingredients:

  • ½ oz. honey syrup (mix equal parts honey and hot water, cool to room temp before use)
  • ½ lime, cut into four wedges
  • 1 ½ oz. Leblon Cachaça
  • 1 extra lime wedge and sugar cane stalk for garnish
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

  1. In a rocks glass, muddle honey syrup with lime wedges.
  2. Fill glass with ice and add Leblon Cachaça.
  3. Garnish with a lime wedge and sugar cane stalk.

Rum Runner cocktail for olympics opening ceremony

Rum Runner

An old favorite with some South American spice added.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ oz. OLO Brazilian spiced rum
  • ½ oz. blackberry brandy
  • ½ oz. banana liqueur
  • 1 oz. orange juice
  • 1 oz. pineapple juice
  • ¼ oz. Grenadine
  • Pineapple slice for garnish
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

  1. In a mixing tin half-filled with ice, add rum, brandy, banana liqueur, orange juice and pineapple juice.
  2. Shake tin until the outside is frosted.
  3. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice.
  4. Drizzle Grenadine over top and garnish with pineapple slice.

Want to learn how the pros mix cocktails? Register today for our upcoming Professional Mixology course!

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