You might have noticed a new publisher behind my Tai & Trey stories — Mojito Literary Press. Which is itself a part of the Mojito Literary Society, founded oh so many years ago by a bunch of us writerly types to celebrate joy, in all its forms.
And one of those joys is, of course, the mojito.
image @deemwave
The derivation of the name is unclear; it could refer to mojo, a lime-flavored seasoning mixture popular in Cuban cuisine, or to the word mojadito, Spanish for "a little wet." A favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway (whose graffiti praising the drink can still be seen on the walls of his favorite Cuban bar), the mojito is a deceptively simple mixture of five basic ingredients: rum, lime juice, cane sugar, club soda, and fresh mint leaves (traditionally yerba buena in Cuba, but most commonly spearmint or peppermint in the US).
I've had many mojitos. Some have been exquisite; others have been as limp and tasteless as salad in a glass. I make my own at home regularly, and they are quite tasty if I do say so myself (and I do). Still, when it comes to mixology, there's no greater authority than my friend Chris Milligan. He writes the blog The Sante Fe Barman and is, IMHO, a genius with all things spirited. When I asked him to explain how to make a perfect mojito, he graciously obliged.
So here it is, folks, straight from someone who knows.
The Perfect Mojito
You’ll need:
10-12 mint leaves
3/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
2 oz white rum
Club soda
Ice
Lime wheel for garnish
In a 12-oz glass, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup and lime juice. Add ice, rum, and fill with club soda. Using a long-handled spoon, pull the mint from the bottom of the glass to combine. You are also mixing in the lime and simple syrup. Garnish with lime wheel or mint sprig.
Important Mixology Skills and Information!
Muddling—the idea in this drink is to extract the oils from the mint without tearing the leaves, so be gentle.
Measure, Measure, Measure. Get a small OXO measuring cup or jigger. This is KEY.
That brings us back to the glassware. If your glasses are bigger than 12 oz, you will need to adjust.
A lime wheel is a lime cut in a circle from pole to pole.
Simple syrup—1 lb. BY WEIGHT of sugar and 8 oz of water (filtered) by volume. Place in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. This keeps for 3-5 days or add a shot of vodka to keep for 3 weeks. Let cool to room temperature. This keeps for 3-5 days or add a shot of vodka to keep for 3 weeks.
If you’d like to make this virgin, simply omit the rum. It’s just as refreshing and delicious.