Drink of the Week

I have a confession: I hate tequila. Ever since a spring-break trip to Cancun went bad during my freshman year of college, I can barely stand the smell of the wretched stuff. But I love all other things south of the border, so I couldn’t resist the lure of Lola, South Pearl Street’s hippest cantina. While this tiny hot spot stocks almost a hundred different versions of my nemesis, it also serves some seriously tasty cocktails that are tequila-free. The Caipirinha ($6), for example, is made with Cachaça, a Brazilian spirit distilled from sugarcane, fresh lime and sugar, served muddled and over ice. The toughest part of this cocktail is saying its name (which roughly translates from the Portuguese to “little peasant girl”), because drinking it is as pleasant as taking a long, rum-soaked walk on the beach. Lola is always packed, so thank your lucky stars if you manage to snag a tall bar table, which is the perfect spot to spend an evening sipping Caipirinhas. But first, build a base of crisp chips and thick guacamole (made tableside), or Lola’s roasted-corn soup — about the tastiest liquid this senhorita has ever slurped. Non-alcoholic, that is.