National Mojito Day
Rum, lime, simple syrup, club soda, ice and mint leaves: mix them together and share the refreshing cocktail known as a Mojito with friends or family.
The Mojito is one of the most popular classic cocktails around the world! So, you will be pleased to know that you have the perfect excuse to enjoy a few Mojitos on National Mojito Day!
The Mojito is a conventional Cuban highball! It consists of white rum, mint, sparkling water, lime juice, and sugar. However, there have been a lot of different variations on the classic drink, with people adding different fruits, such as strawberry and mango mojitos. Some people also enjoy sparkling mojitos, finishing off their drink with a splash of champagne! You can certainly have a lot of fun experimenting.
History Of National Mojito Day
A lot of people know the Mojito as being the favorite drink of famous author Ernest Hemingway. But, where did it all begin for this tasty cocktail? The birthplace of this refreshing drink is Havana, Cuba. Nevertheless, there has been a lot of debate about the exact origin of the drink! It’s known that local South American Indians had cures for several different tropical illnesses. So, a small boarding group went to Cuba, coming back with ingredients for medicine. They included local tropical ingredients – mint, sugarcane juice, and lime – as well as a crude form of rum, which was known as aguardiente de caña. That translates to burning water! While this drink was not known as a mojito at the time, it included a combination of the ingredients that we have come to associate with the drink.
Some historians believe the cocktail’s origin owes a lot to African slaves who were working on the sugar cane fields in Cuba during the 19th century. The sugar cane juice called Guarapo is often found in mojitos, and this was popular amongst African slaves at the time.
In terms of the name mojito, there is also a lot of confusion and theories about where it stemmed from! Some people believe that it is merely a derivative of the Spanish word for ‘a little wet’ – mojadito. There are then others who think that name relates to mojo, which is a Cuban seasoning that is made from lime and used to flavor dishes.
How to celebrate National Mojito Day
Of course, the best way to observe National Mojito Day is by making your own version of the cocktail. We’re going to take you through how to make a Mojito.
Making your own Mojito
First of all, let’s begin by giving you a shopping list of all the ingredients you will require if you wish to make a Mojito. These are as follows…
- Rum
- Limes
- Mint Leaves
- Club Soda
- Sugar
- Ice
The first step of the Mojito recipe is to make a simple syrup. This is essentially sugar water, and it presents a great way of balancing out the limes’ sourness. So, how do you make it?
- Place one cup of water and one cup sugar in a pan
- Heat in order to dissolve the sugar
- Once the sugar has dissolved, you can remove the pan from the heat
- Add approximately 15 mint leaves and leave them to steep
- Allow the simple syrup to cool
So, now you have your simple syrup ready! The next thing you need to do is squeeze some limes. Fresh limes taste much better than lime juice. You can really tell the difference. Squeeze the limes to get the juice necessary. You will probably need to squeeze either one or two limes per Mojito.
Once you have done this, the next thing you need to do is prepare your glasses. You should add a few mint leaves to the bottom of the glass. You should then muddle them. Don’t press too hard. Be gentle whilst breaking up the mint leaves. Why is this step important? Well, it will release the flavor and essence of the mint leaves, which, of course, adds to the cocktail. You should then finish off by adding several ice cubes to the glass.
Now you have done all of the preparation. It is time to serve your Mojito. Getting the ratio of ingredients right is vital so that you have the right balance. We recommend mixing two ounces of rum with one and a half ounces of the mint-infused simple syrup you have created. You should then add one ounce of lime juice and a splash of club soda. Mix this all together and then pour it over the ice and mint leaves that you have already added to the glass. Now your cocktail is ready to serve!
This is a cocktail that is incredibly refreshing with lots of delicate flavors. You can, of course, adjust the measurements to suit yourself. Perhaps you’d prefer your Mojito a bit stronger? If so, add a bit more rum until you are satisfied. Enjoy!
Other suggestions for National Mojito Day
Of course, making your own Mojito is one of the best ways to observe this day, but we have plenty of other ideas as well…
- Why not make mojito ice lollies? You can freeze the ingredients of a mojito to make refreshing cocktail lollies.
- Bake some mojito inspired cakes and treats. If you do a bit of digging online, you will see that there are some fantastic mojito cake recipes. This includes mojito drizzle loaf cake and mojito cheesecakes. Wash these down with the classic cocktail and you’re going to be in mojito heaven!
- Have a cocktail party with your friends. National Mojito Day is the perfect excuse to get all of your friends around and enjoy a cocktail party!
- Make your own version of a mojito. We have given you the classic recipe for a mojito, but why not spice things up with your own creation? There have been so many exciting and delicious variations of the Mojito, so you’re bound to have lots of fun experimenting with different ingredients and flavors.
No matter how you decide to celebrate National Mojito Day, make sure you drink responsibly! No getting in your car to tell your friends about your delicious creations!
