The Mojito is one of the most popular rum co*cktails served today, with a recipe known around the world. The origins of this classic drink can be traced to Cuba and the 16th-century co*cktail El Draque. Named for Sir Francis Drake, the English sea captain and explorer who visited Havana in 1586, El Draque was composed of aguardiente (a cane-spirit precursor to rum), lime, mint and sugar. It was supposedly consumed for medicinal purposes, but it’s easy to believe that drinkers enjoyed its flavor and effects.
Eventually, rum replaced aguardiente and the name was changed to the Mojito. It’s unclear exactly when this transpired, but the Mojito first appeared in co*cktail literature in the 1932 edition of “Sloppy Joe’s Bar co*cktail Manual, a book from the famed Havana institution.
Appropriately, almost all of the ingredients in the Mojito are indigenous to Cuba. Rum, lime, mint and sugar (the island nation grows sugar cane) are joined together and then lengthened with thirst-quenching club soda to create a delicious, lighthearted co*cktail. The drink is traditionally made with unaged white rum, which yields a light, crisp flavor. Using Cuban rum will score you points for authenticity, although many modern Cuban rums are lighter in style than their predecessors, so you might try experimenting with white rums until you find one that you like best.
The Mojito is slightly more labor-intensive than other co*cktails because it involves muddling the mint, but the end result is worth the effort. The mint combines with the other ingredients for an extra dose of refreshment that, while often associated with summer, can be enjoyed any time of the year
If you prefer your co*cktails with a dash of literary history, you’re in luck. The Mojito is said to have been a favorite of Ernest Hemingway who, according to local lore, partook of them regularly at the Havana bar La Bodeguita del Medio.
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Ingredients
3 mint leaves
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces white rum
3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
Club soda, to top
Garnish: mint sprig
Garnish: lime wheel
Steps
Lightly muddle the mint with the simple syrup in a shaker.
Add the rum, lime juice and ice, and give it a brief shake, then strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Alternatively, you can use pebble ice instead and gently swizzle it all together.
Top with the club soda.
Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel.
Mint Sprig Garnish
Firmly slap the mint sprig on the back of your hand before garnishing; this releases the oils to make the mint more aromatic.
