Mention cachaca, and the Caipirinha is the first cocktail that comes to mind. The batida, though, is almost as popular.

Batidas (pronounced ba-chi-da) is Portuguese for "shaken" or "milkshake." The drinks are cachaca cocktails made with fruit juice or pureed fruit, usually with sugar added. Milk or sweetened condensed milk are also common ingredients.

Batidas are thicker, very sweet drinks that take full advantage of the sugarcane flavor of cachaca, although vodka can be substituted if cachaca is unavailable. They need to be shaken vigorously or made in a blender, and are traditionally served in very small glasses.

Batida de Coco (Coconut Batida)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 3 oz. coconut milk (Coco Lopez can be substituted)
• 2 tsp. sugar (leave out the additional sugar if using Coco Lopez)
• 1 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup of ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with bits of coconut. (No blender? Use a shaker, and shake very vigorously - the drink should be frothy.)

Batida de Manga (Mango Batida)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 3 oz. mango nectar, or slices of fresh mango
• 2 oz. sweetened condensed milk.
• 1 cup of ice

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Garnish with a small slice of mango.

Batida de Amendoim (Peanut Batida)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 3 tbsp. creamy peanut butter, or 3 oz. crushed roasted peanut
• 2 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 oz. butterscotch liquor
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup of ice

Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. (This drink can be made in a shaker as well, but the thickness of the peanut butter makes it difficult to combine. Don't attempt it in a shaker if using crushed nuts.)

Batida de Fresa (Strawberry Batida)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 1/2 c. fresh strawberries
• 2 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• 1-2 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup of ice

Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Serve garnished with fresh fruit.

Batida de Milho Verde (Sweet Corn Batida)

Corn? In a cocktail? It sounds strange, but it's sweet and tasty.

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 2 tbsp. sweet corn (canned is fine)
• 2 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
• Crushed ice & sugar to taste

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Leite de Onca (Jaguar Milk)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 2 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 oz. creme de cacao
• crushed ice

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve sprinkled with ground cinnamon for garnish.

Batida de Abacaxi (Pineapple Batida)

• 2 oz. cachaca
• 4 oz. pineapple chunks
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve garnished with a pineapple spear or slice.

Batida de Carnaval

• 1 oz. cachaca
• 1 oz. orange juice
• 2 oz. mango juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake until frothy. Strain into a highball glass over crushed ice and serve. (As an alternative, all ingredients can be combined with the ice in a blender and blended until smooth.)