The Ipanema recipe
for your table
Muddle the lime wedges with the cane sugar in a sturdy glass.
Fill the glass with crushed ice.
Pour in the ginger ale and stir gently from the bottom up.
Finish with lime and a sprig of mint.
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The story
Most mocktails are variations on something else. In Brazil, the Ipanema has a place of its own. You’ll find it on the menu alongside the caipirinha, for drivers, athletes and anyone who wants to enjoy the beach without alcohol. It takes its name from the Ipanema neighborhood and beach in Rio de Janeiro, known around the world from the bossa nova classic The Girl from Ipanema. As mocktails grew in popularity, the drink spread around the world. This Brazilian drink is all about drinking less while still joining in at the table.
The right glass
Like a caipirinha, you make an Ipanema right in the glass. So choose a thick-walled tumbler or sturdy 36 to 47 cl long drink glass that can handle muddling. Ginger ale is quite fizzy, so a little more height than a caipirinha glass works well. The same glass and the same look. Only the morning after feels different. Thick-walled glasses that can take a knock are available in our tumbler glasses.
Duralex Picardie Long Drink Glass 36 cl (6 pieces)
Onis Icon Long Drink Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 56,90.
The right tools
To make an Ipanema, you’ll need a wooden muddler, a long bar spoon, a jigger for precise measuring, large ice cubes and glass straws, in addition to the glass. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; find them all in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our pick 01) + 5 bar tools together € 97,70.
Variations & twists
Use ginger beer instead of ginger ale for a spicier drink. Tonic makes it drier. Muddle passion fruit or strawberries into it and you’ve got a kind of alcohol-free caipifruta. Add a sprig of mint and plenty of lime, and it looks just as good as any cocktail on the table. Looking for more ideas? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Try ginger beer for a spicier drink, or tonic if you want it drier and less sweet. Brown cane sugar gives it a deeper sweetness that almost tastes like caramel.
Good to know
The difference between an Ipanema and a caipirinha
You make them in exactly the same way. Only one ingredient changes. For a caipirinha, muddle lime with cane sugar and add 6 cl of cachaça. For the Ipanema, use 12 cl of ginger ale instead. That takes you from about 18 percent alcohol to 0.0 percent, and the flavor shifts from grassy and bold to fresh and zesty. The muddling, crushed ice, glass, and garnish all stay the same. So at the table, there’s almost no difference, which is exactly what many guests want.
Ginger ale, ginger beer, or tonic
Ginger ale is the standard. Light and sweet, with gentle ginger flavor. Ginger beer is fuller and much spicier. That gives the Ipanema more bite and brings it closer to a Moscow Mule, so use just one teaspoon of cane sugar. Tonic makes it drier and more bitter. Ideal for guests who don’t like sweet mocktails, though you’ll need a little more sugar to balance the lime. Pour 12 cl of any of the three, ice-cold and slowly down the side of the glass.
Muddling without a bitter aftertaste
Cut the lime into eight wedges and remove the white core, which is where most of the bitterness is. Then gently press the wedges with the muddler about six to eight times. The juice should run out and the oils from the peel should be released. Press, but don’t grind. Finely crushed peel will make your drink harsh and bitter within a minute. The two teaspoons of cane sugar help as an abrasive. Use a thick-walled glass that holds 36 to 47 cl. A thin glass won’t hold up.
Making it in a pitcher for a group
You muddle each glass individually, but the prep can easily be done ahead of time. For ten people, squeeze five limes and stir the juice with twenty teaspoons of cane sugar until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate. For each glass, pour 4 cl of the mixture over crushed ice and top up with 12 cl of ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wheel and a little mint. For ten glasses, you’ll need about one and a half liters of ginger ale. There’s no alcohol, so everyone from the designated driver to the kids can join in.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make an Ipanema?
Muddle a lime cut into wedges with two teaspoons of cane sugar in a sturdy glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in 12 cl of ginger ale. Stir gently from the bottom up, then garnish with lime and mint. Use a thick-walled glass that can withstand muddling, like our highball glasses.
What is an Ipanema?
A Brazilian mocktail made with muddled lime, cane sugar, and ginger ale over crushed ice. It’s right there on the menu alongside the caipirinha, for drivers and anyone who wants to join in without alcohol. It’s named after Ipanema beach and neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro.
What’s the difference between an Ipanema and a caipirinha?
A caipirinha contains cachaça, but an Ipanema doesn’t. Ginger ale takes the place of the liquor. Otherwise, they’re almost the same, including muddling lime with cane sugar in the glass. The Ipanema is a little sweeter and longer, with a hint of ginger in the finish.
Is an Ipanema completely alcohol-free?
Yes, absolutely. Lime, cane sugar, ginger ale, and ice contain no alcohol. So pregnant guests, drivers, and children can enjoy it too. For a more grown-up taste, use tonic or ginger beer instead of ginger ale. They’re drier and spicier, and still 0.0 percent.
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