Gaby
The sweet mint cocktail Mojito Batido first appeared in a Havana bar in 1910. The drink grew in popularity during Prohibition in the United States, when Americans traveled to Cuba to enjoy its exotic flavors. Mint and lime were originally added to help mask the taste of inferior rum.
Since the 1980s, the mojito has been recognized as an official cocktail by the IBA (International Bartenders Association). However, this refreshing rum-based long drink continues to be regarded as a Cuban specialty. There are also now recipes for non-alcoholic mojitos, where fragrant ingredients take center stage.
To prepare these cocktails, specific bar tools are essential: a highball glass, which is a tall cylindrical glass that can hold all the ingredients including crushed ice; and a muddler, used for extracting juice from fruits and berries.
Cuban Mojito
Ingredients: light rum – 50 ml; soda water – 100 ml; sugar syrup – 15 ml; lime – 80 g; mint – 3 g; crushed ice – 200 g.
Place the cut lime in the highball glass and muddle it. Holding 10 mint leaves in your palm, clap them with your other hand to release their aroma. Add the mint to the highball and fill it to the top with crushed ice.
Pour in the syrup and rum, then top it off with soda water and gently stir with a cocktail spoon. Add more crushed ice, garnish with mint and a lime wedge. The Cuban mojito is best enjoyed through a cocktail straw.
Non-Alcoholic Mojito
Ingredients: soda – 150 ml; sugar syrup – 15 ml; lime – 60 g; mint – 3 g; crushed ice – 200 g.
Slice one lime, place it in a tall glass, and squeeze the juice with the muddler.
Next, add 10 mint leaves (slightly bruised to release their aroma) and pour in the sugar syrup.
Fill the highball to the top with crushed ice and pour in the soda water. Gently stir with a cocktail spoon.
Add a bit more crushed ice and garnish the cocktail with a sprig of mint.
Strawberry Mojito
Ingredients: strawberries – 120 g; strawberry syrup – 15 ml; soda – 150 ml; lime – 60 g; mint – 3 g; crushed ice – 200 g.
In the highball glass, add mint, chopped lime, and 5 halved strawberries, then muddle everything together.
Fill the tall glass with crushed ice to the top. Pour in the strawberry syrup, top it off with soda water, and gently stir with a cocktail spoon.
Add a bit more crushed ice, garnish with a sprig of mint and a strawberry. Enjoy this refreshing drink through a cocktail straw.
Life Hack
Traditionally the cocktail is made with plain soda water and sugar, but you can speed up the process by using a lemon-lime soda like Sprite or Schweppes and skip the sugar syrup.
A necessary warning: alcohol is harmful to health and can ruin lives.
What else can quench your thirst in the summer? Here are some recipes for summer drinks:
A Sip of Vitality: The Right Drinks for Energy
Spring Vitamins: Dried Fruit Compote Recipe
Juice – The Essence of Fruit: How to Drink Your Vegetables and Fruits
A Sip of Vitamins: Green Smoothie Recipe with Nettle
Homemade Kvass: Recipe for a Refreshing Drink
