Don’t be fooled in thinking that caipirinhas are just cachaça, lime and sugar. I was but I’ve been exposed to whole other world of caipirinha cocktails. Ones with rosemary, passionfruit, basil, lemon grass, pineapple and berries. Any combination goes; fruit, herbs and sometimes spices. Even the spirit base can change. Traditionally made with cachaça, I’ve tried whisky ones, sake ones and vodka ones. Not sure how legitimate they are but it shows there’s experimentation going on. One thing’s for sure; they’re all very sweet. Spoonful after spoonful of sugar cane. Ask for as little as possible. Most of the good bars will adapt. Also be wary of cheap home brewed cachaça, often in plastic petrol cans then syphoned into bottles for show. This liquor is dangerous. I know people who’ve suffered epic 3 day hangovers. But worth it for the courage to samba with the natives.