Sober Spirits R 0.0% is the closest alcohol-free stand-in for cachaca. Both are cane-based spirits with a green, slightly grassy edge, which is exactly what a Caipirinha needs to stand up to lime. Being sugar-free, it also lets you control the sweetness with the agave syrup alone.

Cane sugar has to be muddled and never fully dissolves in a cold drink, leaving a gritty base. Low-GI agave syrup blends instantly and has a gentler impact on blood sugar, so the cocktail stays clean and balanced. Ten millilitres is enough for one glass.

This version uses fresh lime juice rather than muddled wedges, which avoids the bitterness that comes from crushing the white pith. If you prefer the traditional method, press the wedges gently, skin side down, and stop as soon as the juice is released.

A Mojito is a long drink: mint, sugar, lime and sparkling water over ice. A Caipirinha is short and undiluted, with no mint and no water, so the lime and the spirit dominate. Both use Sober Spirits R 0.0% here, but the Caipirinha is markedly drier and more concentrated.

Crushed ice chills the glass almost instantly and adds the small amount of dilution a short, acidic drink needs to open up. With whole cubes the Caipirinha stays too sharp for the first few sips. No ice crusher? Wrap cubes in a clean tea towel and hit them with a rolling pin.