It’s more than just alliteration; it’s a statement, a proclamation that Thursdays are when the weekend should really start. Kicking it off right is the key, and what better way than with a cocktail that not only takes the edge off, but tastes good too. A hard thing to disagree with, we know. Drink up, get down and go to sleep happy.

The 2014 World Cup is an ideal reason to have a drink in hand, whether you’re celebrating a win or drowning your sorrows after a loss.

Brazil being the host country, we’re opting for Brazil’s national cocktail, the caipirinha. This cocktail is made with cachaça, a Brazilian distilled liquor made from fermented sugarcane juice. Simply muddle and shake with raw sugar, lime and lots of crushed ice. It’s a Brazilian classic that will keep your spirits up whether or not your team is!

Bottoms up, folks!

Caipirinha

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon raw sugar
• 1/2 lime, sliced into chunks
• Crushed ice
• Cachaca (Brazilian liquor made of sugar cane)

Directions:

Add the sugar and limes to a cocktail shaker and smash a few times with a muddler. Fill a highball glass with the crushed ice. Fill the glass with cachaca, leaving 1 inch from the top. Pour the glass into the cocktail shaker, and shake really well. Move the cocktail back into the glass, pull out a straw and enjoy the buzz.

Still thirsty? Check out more summery cocktails on Cooking Channel.