Beverages, Holidays / Entertaining

Perfect Mojitos

After a marathon shopping trip yesterday afternoon with CK, I left the mall heavily loaded down with bags. The hot sun of the parking lot and the sight of a Cheesecake Factory mere steps away made me long for a mojito. The first mojito I ever had was at The Cheesecake Factory and it was a thing of beauty. Since then I’ve had equally amazing mojitos and some seriously terrible ones. The terrible ones usually seem to forgo the all important step of using simple syrup in the drink construction.

As CK and I wandered around the lot looking for our car I petulantly expressed my mint fueled longing. He quickly jumped at the idea, but suggested that we buy our own mojito ingredients instead of braving the ridiculous crowds at the restaurant. So after a haphazard trip to Whole Foods and the liquor store, where the iPhone was consulted not once, not twice, but three times to make sure we had purchased all of the correct ingredients, we were ready to mix some cocktails. I actually almost botched the whole experiment by forgetting that there are limes in the drink. Obviously too much time at the mall sucks the intelligence right out of me.

Our friend Anna joined us for the occasion and we had an interesting impromptu dance party in the kitchen while watching the Bacardi Mojito demonstration online. It was truly a group effort and the drinks came out perfectly.  Personally I think the dancing helped. I honestly can’t think of anything better to have on a hot summer night than a large cold glass of minty rum. Summer will be over soon. it’s time to get your mojito on!

Bacardi Mojito

12 fresh spearmint leaves
1/2 lime
2 tablespoons simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, cooled)
Ice
1 1/2 ounces light rum (recommended: Bacardi)
Club soda
Lime wedge and mint sprig, for garnish

In a tall glass, muddle or mash together the mint leaves and lime. Add the simple syrup or sugar and fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and top with club soda, stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

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Simple Syrup
CK’s Simple Syrup
Slice
Slice
Anna Muddles
Anna Muddles
Ice
Ice
Refreshed
Refreshed