The mojito, the oldest cocktail in time…perhaps.
The mojito is a great example of a simple, classic cocktail that makes a statement. The perfect cocktail for a hot summer's day, the mojito is refreshing and vibrant with each of its perfectly balanced components shining through.
The mojito is a popular cocktail that has a classy air about it. Seemingly a fancy and complicated cocktail, due to its usual presentation and complex palette, the mojito is actually a rather simple cocktail to create.
A simple cocktail is any bartender's best friend, especially on a busy night, but having a simple cocktail that makes customers feel like they are getting a high-quality, sophisticated cocktail is the jackpot.
Already a fabulous cocktail for enhancing the customer experience, another great way to elevate the experience is by sharing its fascinating history. Everyone loves a good story, especially when it's about their favorite cocktail.
The origin of the mojito is not necessarily a story set in stone, with very little written record of the cocktail being found until 1929 when the first mention of it was made in a cuban cocktail recipe book. However, this drink does have its tale told in history, even if it is not in written form.
The most common story, often accepted as fact, starts with a dragon. Now the dragon in question was none other than Francis Drake, or “El Draque” meaning the Dragon, a famous English explorer and privateer.
The earliest version of the mojito cocktail as we know it today was more than likely the same cocktail that took the name of the famous explorer, El Draque. This cocktail is said to have been made as a medicine for the crew, who was suffering from illnesses, such as scurvy while out at sea.
Now this is where a few versions of the story come into play, some say that Drake’s physician was aware of the medicinal properties of mint, and it was a well known fact that citrus and rum were already being used out at sea as medicine and hydration for the crew, as this is how another famous cocktail, grog, came to be. Now, with the addition of mint we have the El Draque.
Another version of the story is that Francis Drake and his crew arrived off the coast of Cuba in 1586 set to plunder the city of Havana. Instead the crew left the city remarkably untouched after firing only a few shots, and the locals created the drink, made with ingredients native to the island, to celebrate.
Whatever the true origin of the cocktail is, we may never know. However, it is fairly safe to assume that the cocktail was created in Cuba, as all the ingredients in the cocktail are native to that land. Now at the time the rum was not an ingredient used but instead it was a cruder liquor that later became what we know rum to be today. This crude version of rum was known as aguardiente.
As rum began to replace the aguardiente in the 19th century, along with the addition of soda water, this is when the drink started to be recognized by the name mojito and began to grow in popularity among the people of Cuba. Used less as a remedy and enjoyed more as a drink on a hot summer's day or while enjoying the sand between your toes relaxing on a white sand beach. As more people began to travel to and from Cuba the drink began to spread around, and did not take long to gain popularity throughout the rest of the world.
Although this drink has experienced some experimentation and a few different variations over the years, this cocktail, nearly one of the oldest in history, still utilizes nearly the exact same recipe as it has for the past 400 years to be enjoyed today.
To create this simple, humble and delightfully refreshing taste of Cuba you will need:
2 oz white rum (preferably a cuban rum)
½ oz simple syrup (or mix 1 tsp of sugar with the lime juice for a more authentic
method)
½ of a lime juiced (roughly ¾ - 1 oz)
A sprig of mint
Soda water to top
Gently muddle the mint with the simple syrup and lime juice directly in the glass, then add the rum and cracked ice to the glass. Top off with a splash of the soda water. Give the drink a quick stir and garnish with more mint.
Now serve up your perfectly poured mojito, along with its juicy history and see how customers will be lining up for more!
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