Post your favorite mixological concoction here.
8-10 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint with a long stem (strip all but the last 2-3 leaves off the stem)
1 Key lime, quartered
2.5oz (1 jigger + 1 pony) white rum - Bacardi Silver, by personal preference*
2.5oz (1 jigger + 1 pony) simple syrup**
Seltzer or soda water - high quality sparkling mineral water will do, if you prefer
1 tbsp raw sugar (not white sugar or brown sugar - looking for raw sugar. Don't substitute this!)
Crushed ice
Directions:
Rub one of the lime quarters around the lip of a collins or highball glass, then rim it with the sugar.
Combine the simple syrup with the mint leaves in the glass and muddle until the mint is thoroughly bruised and you can smell it pretty strongly.
Add two fingers of crushed ice and 2 of the key lime quarters and muddle until the lime is thoroughly pulped and the skin has released a good amount of its essential oils.
Fill the glass with crushed ice, then pour in the rum and top the glass off (leaving a fingerwidth at the top, spillage is a party foul!) with seltzer.
Stir thoroughly, until the sides of the glass get frosty.
Garnish with the reserved mint sprig and lime quarter, then relax and enjoy responsibly!
* On a cooler day, substitute a light rum for the white rum - I prefer 10 Cane Rum when I can find it, although any unspiced rum will do. Avoid flavored or spiced rums like Captain Morgan's and Malibu.
** Simple syrup is easy to make. Combine equal parts by volume sugar and water, bring to a boil and reduce until the concoction is thick. Keep an eye on it though, as it can and will burn, which you definitely don't want happening. For best results with this recipe, use raw sugar instead of white sugar. You can also substitute agave nectar here, but I'm a mojito purist and that would be sacrilege! Most grocery stores sell simple syrup in their liquor aisles, but it's really cheaper to make your own.
Fivelives
Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:23 am
