NewYorkFirst.com: Caipirinha Cocktail Set

Cocktails and Showgirls.

Owned by Lou Walters, father of ABC's Barbara Walters and E.M. Loew, brilliant theatrical tycoon, the Latin Quarter was a mid-century mecca for big-named entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny, and Tony Bennett who intermingled with waves of high-kicking chorus girls wearing costumes created to "enhance their best features," as the club's PR department proudly stated. The typical joke among Latin Quarter dancers as they took the stage in their semi-nude costumes went something like, "Gee, when I think of the money I wasted on singing lessons..."

The legendary Latin Quarter transported patrons to a tropical state of mind when they introduced the Caipirinha to New York in the 1950s. Today, with the growing influence of Latin American culture, the drink is served at all the city’s best bars.

Think of a Caipirinha as liquid journey; the freshly shaken cocktail begins strong and potent, then refined, harmonious flavors set in as the ice melts, and ends with a sweet finish at the bottom of the glass.

The original drink (pronounced KIE-PUR-REEN-YAH) is Brazilian in origin, made with Cachaça, sugar, and limes, served over ice. Ingredients are properly measured with a jigger; fruit is crushed in sturdy glasses with a wooden muddler; and always served with sipping straws. These essential tools and supplies are included in the Caipirinha Set along with Latin-inspired recipes, everything you need for the home bar. Just bring your own booze.

The Best Latin Party Guide.
"The Caipirinha can be sipped at sultry summertime parties or during cold winter months; it's tropical flavors transcend all seasons," writes Arlen Gargagliano in Mambo Mixers, as she takes readers on a sumptuous sojourn into the bars and nightclubs of Latin America. Besides the Classic Caipirinha and a Kiwi Caipirinha, she serves up recipes for 50 sexy, elegant cocktails, accompanied by such tapas as Crisp Toasts with Chimichurri, Tortilla Española, and Dominican Shrimp Croquettes, virtually limitless cocktail party combinations.