Mojito

One of the things I love about living in the Pacific Northwest is that if you don't like the weather, just wait a few moments and check again. Today, the sky is blue, the sun is out, and I can almost hear summer knocking at the door. One of the drinks that I think embodies summer perfectly is an icy, minty Mojito.

Mojito

• 1 1/2 ounces white rum
• 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar or 1 ounce simple syrup
• 2 sprigs mint
• Soda Water

Place sugar, mint, and a splash of soda in a pint glass.
Use a muddler to lightly press the mint and dissolve the sugar to form a mint flavored syrup.
Add ice, lime juice, rum, and one half of a lime shell (quartered).
Shake well, and then strain into an ice filled pint glass.
Top with soda and garnish with a mint sprig sprinkled with sugar.

This drink most likely originated during the 19th century in Cuba, when it would have been made with water that had been sweetened with cane sugar and then spiked with unrefined rum. From this humble beginning, it eventually evolved and made its earliest appearance under the name "Mojito" at Playa de Marianao, a working class beach near Havana Cuba. Its form by this time had already taken full shape. It might often, however, have still been made with plain water instead of sparkling water.

It was in "La Bodeguita del Medio" (a combination of bar and grocery store), however, that the fame of the Mojito took root. Here, Angel Martinez, its original owner, began serving his version of the drink that he had been sampling at the various beach bars of the area. He must have been doing a good job with them, because suddenly his bar became renowned for them. It should be remembered that the Mojito was the working class drink of the time, while the Daiquiri was the upper class drink that was being served to the visiting Americans at the more famous "El Floridita" bar. It was also the Daiquiri which was being heavily promoted by the Bacardi Company, while the Mojito was being all but ignored.

Today, the Mojito has become one of those hip and trendy drinks, which almost necessitates avoiding it least you appear to be simply trying to follow the crowd. In many cases you are probably better off ordering something else, since by becoming too trendy, the Mojito has also been subject to various shortcuts in an attempt to take a drink which is a little time consuming to make properly and turn it into a drink that is both quicker, and cheaper to provide to the trend-following masses. This doesn't mean that the Mojitos you make at home have to fall into this trap. So prepare for summer by picking up some fresh mint and limes, and try making your own icy fresh Mojitos at home, where you know you can make them just the way you like.