The Mojito Iconic Cuban Cocktail Food

THE MOJITO (ICONIC CUBAN COCKTAIL!)

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and syrup. (Here's how to muddle mint.)
• Add the rum and fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold.
• Place ice into a glass, and strain in the liquid. Top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with additional mint leaves.

CUBAN MOJITOS

Steps:

• In each glass: add 2 teaspoons of white cane sugar and the juice of half a lime. In Cuba, they don't place the lime into the glass, just the lime juice!
• Place one long mint stem into each glass and simply muddle (push down and twist) the bottom of the stem only NOT THE MINT LEAVES into the sugar and lime juice. Two reasons for this: one you don't get a strong bitter taste when you over-muddle the leaves, and they stay pretty and green not brown and bruised. This tip came from the bartenders we met on our trip in Cuba and was confirmed with my good friend Abel who is a Cuban travel guide, and trust me, he knows a thing or two about mojitos!
• Next, add 1 shot white rum, 3 drops aromatic bitters.
• Add few ice cubes, in Cuba they don't add lots of ice because it is not commonly used, top with a splash of sparkling water, add mint garnish, mix, and sip away!

CUBAN MOJITO

Steps:

• Place 1 teaspoon of sugar into each of two 12 ounce glasses. Squeeze the juice from a lime wedge into each glass, drop in the wedge, and add 2 sprigs of mint. Use a spoon or muddler to mash the sugar, lime juice, and mint together in the bottom of the glasses. Fill each glass about half full with crushed ice. Pour 1/4 cup rum into each glass. Fill the glasses with club soda, stir, and garnish with additional lime wedges.