A Mojito Cocktail! A rum-based drink built with sugar syrup, lime juice, mint, and soda water!
Mojito Cocktail Info
The Mojito cocktail is one of the most well-known cocktails, and most people know it. The drink's history goes back to the 1500s when it was considered a drink for the Cuban working classes.
There are two stories of how and who invented the Mojito cocktail.
Francis Drake was proud to claim the drink as his invention.
After he had conquered Cartagena de Indias in Spain, the explorer set his sights on Cuba. Many of his men became ill with dysentery, scurvy, and other ailments. They believed they would find medicine in Havana. Sir Francis Drake returned from the town with Aguardiente de Cana, a crude form of rum, lime, sugarcane juice, and mint. The Mojito was created when the ingredients were combined but were initially known as the El Draque. Although it is unlikely that the combination was very beneficial, the lime juice may have helped relieve some symptoms.
The team brought the drink back to Europe. Sparkling water, ice, and mint leaves were added to the drink, which was then served in a highball glass.
The second story is about the African slaves who worked in the sugarcane fields. They had access to Guarapo (sugarcane juice), but their version didn't contain lime juice.
It is not even clear where the name came from. Many believe it is derived from Mojo, which translates to "to put a little spell." It's also a Cuban seasoning made with lime. Others believe it is derived from mojadito (Spanish for "a little wet") or mojado, which means "wet."
The Origin Of The Mojito Cocktail
Bacardi Company, founded in the mid-1800s, made the drink very popular, and to show how versatile their rum was, the company created the Mojito. Ernest Hemmingway discovered it while on a trip through Cuba. He used to drink at La Bodeguita del Medio. It is still in business today. His famous quote "My mojito from La Bodeguita and my daiquiri from El Floridita" is engraved on the wall.
Brigitte Barrdot, Errol Flynn and others were also fans. James Bond used it to seduce Jinx in Die Another Day.
There are many Mojito variations, including the Malibu Mojito cocktail, which has coconut flavoring, the Dirty Mojito, which uses spiced rum and brown sugar syrup; and the Mexican Mojito, which substitutes rum for tequila. The Mojito Royal substitutes soda for champagne, while the Morelli Mojito replaces soda with red bull and uses raspberry vodka. To sharpen the taste, some bars also add Angostura bitters. Sometimes the lime is replaced by lemon.
Mojitos can be made to suit everyone's tastes. Don't give up on the Mojito. Just try a new variation.
Mojito
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 40 ml White Rum
- 40 ml Sugar Syrup
- 40 ml Lime Juice
- 10 Mint Leaves
- 120 ml Soda Water
Instructions
- Add sugar syrup, lime juice, and mint leaves to a highball glass.
- Lightly crush the leaves with something so they release flavor. Do not break the leaves because the drink will become bitter!
- Now add ice.
- Now add your rum.
- Then top it off with soda water!
- Stir the ingredients around and garnish with more mint.
- Serve!