The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Bossa Nova Baby Cocktail Was Made for Day Drinking (Recipe & Video)

By Cator Sparks September 12, 2017

We aren’t ashamed to admit that we love a tipple during the day. While we don’t (usually) imbibe in the office, we may just pour one during breakfast on weekends. The key is to day drinking is not getting absolutely hammered. We don’t want to be slurring by lunch and stumbling by dinner; we just want to have that grin-inducing buzz throughout the day.

Kevin King of the famed McCrady’s Tavern — chef icon Sean Brock runs this joint and, yes, George Washington did dine here in 1791 — in Charleston, South Carolina, introduced us to his favorite day drink, the Bossa Nova Baby cocktail, and we are happy to let you know: it went down very well.

bossa nova baby cocktail — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kevin let us in on how he came up with this signature drink:

“I was looking to make a light, refreshing, and low ABV cocktail for our list, something that people could enjoy during the day and not get hammered. The cocktail is basically a riff on two classics: the Caipirinha and the Last Word. I wanted to introduce people to cachaça (Brazilian rum distilled from fermented sugar cane juice) in a fun and interesting way, and pairing it with aloe vera juice — something people have heard of but probably have never tried — seemed like the perfect fit. Aloe juice is super refreshing and has a natural sweetness, which means I didn’t need to add sugar to balance out the acidity from fresh lime.”

“I rounded it out and added a little depth with the herbal Dolin Génépy and aromatic Cocchi Americano. It is finished with a pinch of salt to get people salivating a little. Then it is garnished with a cucumber slice, so that’s the first thing a customer smells. The name derives from the Brazilian music genre and is directly named from the fun and exciting hit ‘Bossa Nova Baby’.”

Bossa Nova Baby
(Created by Kevin King, McCrady’s Tavern, Charleston, South Carolina)

1 oz Novo Fogo Cachaça
0.5 oz Dolin Génépy
0.5 oz Cocchi Americano
0.75 oz Aloe Vera Juice
0.25 oz fresh lime juice
1 pinch Maldon salt
Cucumber slice
Salad burnet*

Method: Combine liquid ingredients. Shake. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with cucumber slice and salad burnet.

*Salad burnet is an herb that has a cool, savory flavor similar to cucumber.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…

Food & Drink

Forget Hershey’s: Our chocolate sauce recipe is better, and takes 5 minutes to make

Seriously, stop buying chocolate sauce

melted dark chocolate flow, candy or chocolate preparation background

If you don't have kids in your house, it may have been a while since you last enjoyed a generous drizzling of sweet, indulgent chocolate sauce. Or maybe not. In addition to the childhood favorites, chocolate sauce (or, syrup) can also be the star of many adult-themed beverages and...activities. But however you enjoy this decadent sauce, we'll bet you didn't realize how easy it is to make for yourself. No sticky brown jug from Hershey's is required.

Chocolate sauce is the ketchup of the dessert world. Kids love it, adults love it (whether they admit it or not), and it makes anything better with just a little squeeze. Use it to amp up ice cream, magically create chocolate milk, turn it into a dip for your favorite fruits, or garnish cakes and brownies. We love to stir it into our iced coffees and chocolate-themed cocktails.

Food & Drink

Whiskey upgrade: How to fat wash your favorite whiskey or bourbon to add new depths of flavor

Add flavor to whiskey or bourbon with fat-washing

Whiskey glass

If you pay attention to the cocktail or whiskey world, you’ve probably heard the term “fat-washed” at some point. You also might not have any idea what that means. You might assume you should, so you don’t want to ask anyone and seem foolish, right? It sounds like you’re washing whiskey with some kind of fat, whatever that means. If you think that, you’re on the right track. It is a technique to change the flavor of whiskey (and other spirits), but it has nothing to do with your kitchen sink, washing machine, dishwasher, or anything like that.

In the simplest terms, fat washing is a cocktail technique in which some form of fat (like bacon fat, butter, or some other fat) is added to room-temperature whiskey (like in a dish or sealable container, not a bottle). It sits on the counter for a few hours so the fat can separate from the spirit before being put into a refrigerator or freezer until the fat forms a solid crust on top. Scrap it off or strain it through cheesecloth and you have a buttery, fatty, flavorful whiskey to pour back into a bottle to use in your favorite cocktails. Sounds simple enough. To do it right requires a little bit more effort than that. There are steps that need to be taken.

Food & Drink

Feeling rushed in the mornings? This is the best way to get great coffee

Custom coffee at-home without any special equipment? Yes, please.

Cup of coffee with beans on table

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while we tend to agree, the spread is nothing without some quality caffeine. Yet, we don't always have the energy or time to produce a solid cup. So, for those who live frantic a.m. lifestyles that barely make room for a sip of java -- let alone a bite of toast -- we have a solution, and its name is Frazy.

So, instead of dropping by Starbucks or dusting off that espresso machine (assuming you have one to begin with), try this convenient service instead. Created by baristas, the vials of coffee are customizable and require only water to create. One can decide on the strength of flavor and level of sweetness, along with dairy choice, and the resulting drink can take the form of either cold or hot coffee, along with a straight-up espresso shot.