Let’s make phenomenal cocktails. Not only delicious, but fun and FLAMING! Can I get an “AMEN SISTAH”?! Why this is awesome should go without saying. FIRE. We’re going to set our drinks on FIRE.

Summertime is simply glorious for cocktails namely because of all of the patios, balconies, pools, and hopefully beaches on which they will be consumed. You have the sun on your (sun-screened) face, a good friend to talk with, a magazine or book to read, some sweet jamz, an ice-cold cocktail in your hand, and not a worry in the world. (Try this Lemon Thyme cocktail or The 712 cocktail!)

Speaking of sweet jamz (no, that “z” was not a typo before – sorry I’m not sorry), if you haven’t heard “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, you need to turn up the volume and listen to it now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4 Or listen to it again. And again…

For summatime, I’m also currently loving:

-“I Want Crazy” by Hunter Hayes (I don’t care if he’s the Biebs of the country world, I still love it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvtXgNtYFMs

-“Counting Stars” by One Republic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg)

-“Shake Shake Shake” by Bronze Radio Return (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSw6CVvhRck)

-“Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKyBcCDOB4)

-Aaaaaand a throwback for you: “Pinch Me” by Barenaked Ladies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSF350_BI0)

There are countless others, but that would just take forever here – my summer playlist, aptly named “G & Ts and Golden Marshmallow” happens to be 145 songs long.

Now, don’t just mix up some orange juice and vodka for your poolside beverage. Let’s get fancy. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but a little extra effort in a cocktail goes a loooong way. A caipirinha is a simple Brazillian cocktail with just three ingredients: cachaça, lime, and sugar. It’s how you handle it that makes it awesome, and we’re handling it with fire. Why haven’t I lit my drinks on fire before?!

You can play with the proportions to your taste: sweeter/boozier/citrusier (yeah, that last one was a stretch). But you can also add different fruit to it if you’d like: strawberries or grapefruit…go crazy!

Now, I did need the help of my roommate, Meg, to light and then hold the flaming spoon while I photographed. You know what I say, “teamwork makes the dream work.” Thanks love :)

Here’s what we did:

Recipe adapted from my friend Ben.

FLAMING Caipirinha

So we’re lighting it on fire to caramelize the sugar before you put it in the drink. Ok off we go…

2 oz. cachaça

3 large lime wedges

1 small spoonful of cane sugar

Squeeze two of the lime wedges in a glass. Put the cane sugar in a spoon (or absinthe fork if you have it), and fill the spoon with cachaça over your glass. Using a match or lighter, ignite the spoon and let burn until the sugar caramelizes (usually 30-60 seconds). Once this happens, pour as little water over the spoon as is necessary to put out the fire, then immediately stir the spoon into the glass. Add the rest of the cachaca and squeeze in the other lime as you stir. Add lots of ice, stir, and serve with a lime wedge. Enjoy!

**French phrase for fun:

Franchement, je veux te voir être courageux.

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.