Starting on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and lasting six full days, Salvador de Bahia’s Carnival is a magnet for festa lovers. Carnaval is one of the most important events in Brazil, attracting both party-goers and families from near and far.

Contrary Rio de Janeiro’s famous festivities, Salvador’s version of carnaval is a smaller and more intimate affair (though still very large), and is concentrated on the city’s waterfront. Yet the biggest difference is that Salvador’s carnival doesn’t have any samba schools or official samba school parades. Instead, the music that turns the streets of the city into the world’s biggest party is called axé, a frenetic mix of African and Brazilian pop beats.

Revelers are fondly described as “pipoca” or popcorn to describe how the jumping crowd looks from a distance.  Floats, known as “blocos” parade slowly along the road, while a roped-off area around the float plays the music and allows partygoers to happily get down (and jump back up again) in safety.

If Salvador de Bahia is a bit far to get to, then this signature cocktail is the next best thing. Mixing Bitter Truth Apricot Brandy, Galliano and Maker’s Mark 46, and topped off with a cone of popcorn, our Pipoca will have you moving and grooving at home!