No one in our house drinks alcohol, so I really like to make this drink when we have Mexican food. The kids AND adults love it! Imagine my surprise to find out that historically, the Mojito is thought to have been brought to Cuba by pirates! Arrrr! A great drink AND a good story. I'm hooked.
The mojito has a legendary history of its own; the buccaneering lore behind this particular drink is noteworthy. There's much debate as to when exactly the mojito was invented and by whom. Many claim it was crafted in Cuba in the late 1800s. Others elaborate on this theory saying that the mojito was the preferred beverage of Sir Francis Drake as early as the 1500s. According to The Mojito Company's website, it was English pirate Richard Drake who prepared the first version of the drink using aguardiente, an unrefined kind of rum that he mixed with some sugar, lime and mint. Story has it the swashbucklers introduced the drink to Cuba on their treasure-hunting exploits through the Caribbean and Latin America.
So, grab your favorite little Swashbucklers, put on your eye patches, and make up a batch!
Virgin Mojito
SERVES: 1
Ingredients:
15 mint leaves
1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
SERVES: 1
Ingredients:
15 mint leaves
1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
Ice
4 ounces chilled ginger ale
4 ounces chilled ginger ale
Directions:
1. In a cocktail shaker (or whatever), muddle the mint, sugar, lime juice and Simple Syrup. Add ice, shake well and pour into a tall glass. Top with the ginger ale.
Simple Syrup
MAKES ABOUT 1 1/2 CUPS
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil; simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 3 minutes.
Note: The syrup can be refrigerated for up to 3 weeks, so make a batch ahead of time and you've got quick and easy drinks!
