The Mojito, that minty rum cocktail, is a true classic and the most delightful cooling drink. One of the biggest myths is the story that the Mojito was Ernest Hemingway's favorite cocktail. The story goes that he would often drink it at his favorite bar in Havana. As proof of this, a handwritten message signed by Ernest Hemingway hangs on the bar's wall. The truth, however, is that it was just a marketing ploy by the bar. The legend has fooled even Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made pilgrimages to the bar to enjoy a Mojito following in the famous writer's footsteps. In fact, Papa Hemingway's favorite cocktail was the good old daiquiri.
The drink's history is part fact and part fiction, but it's a good one. This is fun to sip while reading Ernest Hemingway's famous works...
Ingredients:
4 cl white rum
2 tsp cane sugar
Mint leaves
Lime wedges
Sparkling water
Ice
Instructions:
Cut half a lime into wedges and place them in a glass. Add the sugar and muddle the limes at the bottom of the glass. Then add 8-10 mint leaves and gently press the mint with a muddler or spoon. Don't crush the mint leaves, or they'll release a bitter taste into the drink. Add the rum and crushed ice. Top with sparkling water. Stir the drink with a spoon until well mixed. You can adjust the flavor to your liking by adding more lime, sugar, or mint. The mint releases more flavor if you clap the leaves between your palms before adding them to the drink. You can also try different flavored sparkling waters to give the drink a new twist.
