Mojitos 
(Cuban rum, lime and mint cocktail)

Fresh mojito cocktails
Image by guilherme jofili

This mojito is Cuba’s answer to the mint julep — perfect on a hot summer day. Mojitos have been around since at least the mid-1800s. They were reputedly one of Hemingway’s favorite drinks. According to a quote attributed to him, those at “La Bodeguita” bar in Havana were the best.

Mojitos

Course: Beverages, AlcoholicCuisine: Cuba
Makes 1 pitcher, or around 6 cocktails

This mojito is Cuba’s answer to the mint julep — perfect on a hot summer day. Mojitos have been around since at least the mid-1800s.

Ingredients

  • Sugar — 1 cup

  • Water — 1 cup

  • Mint, stems removed from half — 1 bunch

  • Limes, juice only — 6 to 8

  • Rum, light or dark — 1/2 of a 750-ml bottle

  • Club soda — 1 liter

Directions

  • Add the sugar, water and destemmed mint to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved completely. Set aside to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Remove and discard the mint leaves and strain the syrup into a pitcher. Add the lime juice and as much rum as you like. Chill well.
  • Just before serving, stir in the club soda. Serve immediately over ice in cocktail glasses. Garnish with the remaining mint sprigs.

Mojito Notes and Variations

  • To make individual portions: Eliminate the mint from the simple syrup and instead lightly crush some mint leaves in each glass. Add crushed ice, juice of one lime, 2 ounces of simple syrup and 2 to 3 ounces of rum. Top off with a splash or more of club soda, stir, and garnish with a lime wedge and a fresh sprig of mint.

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