Drink

Cachaça is a liquor made from fermented sugarcane juice and is now recognized by the U.S. as a distinctive product of Brazil, instead of as a "Brazilian rum." With the World Cup and the Olympics turning the world's attention to Brazil in the next couple years, get ready for the cachaça blitz and arm yourself with new cocktail recipes — like this one!

Erick Castro is a bartender’s bartender. After a career working at many of San Francisco's great cocktail bars, he has opened a new bar in sunny San Diego called Polite Provisions, part cocktail bar and part old-fashioned pharmacy counter, complete with egg creams. Instead of telling you what Erick is doing, I thought I would let him do that himself. I bellied up to his new spot and asked him some questions.

Sometimes, you need a closer. Think flowers on Valentine’s Day. Or Mariano Rivera, circa 2008. For Italians, the ultimate summertime closer is limoncello, the bright, bracing digestivo that is sipped from May to mid-September. It’s time to learn how to make Italy’s summer spirit in your own kitchen. Read on.