Classic Mojito

Yes, it's important to know all about the Classic Mojito cocktail's history, but first, here are some other classic rum cocktail recipes you'll probably dig: the Zombie, the Mai Tai, the Classic Daiquiri, the Classic Piña Colada, and the Hurricane. Now, where does the Classic Mojito recipe come from, you ask? Great question, little Mojito mixed drink friend. According to the Mojito Wikipedia page, the Mojito is "a cocktail that consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime juice, soda water, and mint..." that was originally made in Havana Cuba." Despite the fact that the Classic Mojito definitely came from Cuba, historians are still unclear about exactly where in Cuba the drink originated. The Classic Mojito cocktail Wikipedia page does note, however, that the combination of the core ingredients used in the Classic Mojito — lime, sugarcane juice, and mint — was first assembled by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century after the British sea captain and his men suffered a bout of dysentery and scurvy near Havana. The ingredients, which were gathered from the Cuban natives, did help to mitigate the effects of the scurvy and dysentery and scurvy, but only because of the lime juice. Side note: The Cuban natives didn't have rum at this time, they had "burning water," which was a rough, primitive form of rum. The Classic Mojito Wikipedia page does note, however, that there are conflicting stories for the origin of rum, with "Some historians [contending] that African slaves who worked in the Cuban sugar cane fields during the 19th century were instrumental in the cocktail's origin." As a fun, tangential side note to the Classic Mojito's history, the great American author Ernest Hemingway is believed to have had a soft spot for Mojitos, and drank tons of them while living in Cuba. In regards to the origin of the Mojito's name, TASTE Cocktails notes that the aforementioned African slaves "were not the ones to invent the drink, but the ones to give it its modern name." TASTE goes on to say that "The spanish word “mojadito” (meaning “a little wet”) and the Cuban lime-based seasoning 'mojo' are other possible explanations for the name." CLASSIC MOJITO 1 1⁄2 oz. (45ml) White rum 3⁄4 oz Simple Syrup 4 Lime Wedges 1 1⁄2 oz Club soda 6 Mint Leaves Garnish: Mint Sprig, Lime Wedge PREPARATION 1. Drop lime wedges, mint leaves and simple syrup into base of glass. Muddle well. 2. Add ice and rum before topping with club soda. 3. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!