Hemingway Would Not Approve
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jul 26, 2006 6:00PM
The mojito brings to mind a time in history where visiting Cuba that didn't require buying air fare in Cancun, Jamaica or the Bahamas; a Cuba where Michael Corleone sealed his brother Fredo's fate with a kiss; and musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo didn't have to wait until late in life to bcome recognized by American audiences. The mojito is the gateway to a slew of Caribbean fantasies with the faint recognition of son montuno and timba music in the background. Those of us who've taken that plunge have made the pilgrimage to La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, where Ernest Hemingway drank his mojitos served with extra rum and no club soda, and not left disappointed.
Chicagoist has been known to occasionally mix up a mojito for friends at parties, so long as they understand that we don't want to get sucked into that friend's on-call bartender. Unlike the caipirinha, we don't want to waste any undue energy with the muddling of sugar, mint and limes. To that end, we've created a fairly simple recipe for you that will have guests at your next party, barbecue, or soiree raving about your mojito, while still allowing you to fret over that fool who putting water stains on your coffee table.
Prepare a simple mint syrup using two packages of fresh mint, three cups of sugar, and a quart of water. Mince the mint before adding to bring out the flavor, heat until thickened, and let it cool overnight. Now, all you have to do to make a mojito bursting with flavor is to add half a lime, two teaspoons of the mint syrup, three ounces of white rum (Chicagoist has some Havana Club at home, but recommends Ron Matusalem Platino, which is about as close to real Havana Club as you're going to get in the States.), and two ounces of club soda. Garnish the drink with a sprig of mint, and off you go.
You can experiment with the mojito by substituting different fruits for lime, like raspberries, mango, mandarin, peach, and grapefruit. "Papa" wouldn't approve, but he isn't here to stop us.