How to Make a Cuban Mojito

Cuban Mojito Recipe

Last night my wife took me to a fashionable charity event called Motor Cars Under the Stars. It was a gift for my recent birthday and is becoming an annual event for us. The event is sponsored by UBS Financial Services and the Philadelphia Area Jaguar Dealers to raise money for United Cerebral Palsy.

UCP is an important institution to us. They are the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and there mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities. Our youngest daughter has CP.

The event was held at the Ardrossan Estate here in the Philadelphia Main Line area. If you are a movie buff, you may remember this estate because it was once home to Hope Montgomery Scott, the inspiration for the character Katharine Hepburn played in The Philadelphia Story.

The estate is for sale and this may be the last time anyone gets to wander around it. We were able to tour the first floor of the mansion and look at the incredible family artwork and classic architectural details. It really took you back to a past era. I only wish I watched the move again before this event.

There was tons of great food served at various stations on the grounds. We had filet mignon, crab fingers, beef & chicken satay and Mojitos. We found an empty bench at the back of the house looking over some of the 300 plus acres while dining on our finger food and enjoying our cocktails. It made for a fun night.

One of the sponsors were 10Cane rum. They had several tables set up where they were making this delicious rum concoction called a Mojito, Hemingway’s other favorite drink and the subject of this blog.

A Mojito (moh-HEE-toh) is a combination of rum, lime juice, sugar, mint and a splash of club soda. They originated in Cuba and are now popular in many island style restaurants. Here’s the original authentic recipe from Havana with a slight variation. I noticed the bartender added a few drops of Angostura bitters. He said it helped cut down some of the sweetness to the drink.

Mojito

• 1-teaspoon powdered sugar
• 2 ounces fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
• 4 mint leaves
• a couple drops of Angostura bitters
• 2 ounces rum
• 2 ounces club soda

How to Prepare a Mojito

Place the mint leaves into your glass of choice. Traditionally tall “Tom Collins” type glasses are used but we were served in highball glasses and they tasted fine to me. Add the fresh lime juice, sugar and bitters.

Gently mash these ingredients together with a Harry Potter sounding tool called a muddler, a wooden club that looks like a small bat. If you don’t have a muddler and I don’t know why you would, you can use the back of a spoon. If you were planning to make a lot of Mojitos this summer, I would invest in a muddler.

Add ice, crushed is better than cubes. Add the rum and stir. Our bartender mixed the drinks with a cocktail mixer the same as you would use to make a martini. I think they are better this way so the ice doesn’t dilute the flavor of the drink.

Once mixed, top off with a little club soda and serve.  Delicious!

Warning – Don’t drink and drive.