Summer is a time of carelessness, fun, and relaxation, in other words, the Mojito. Visually, this highball is a refreshing, cool, clear concoction beautifully garnished with mint leaves and lime. It's icy, water like facade can cause anybody to salivate. Don't worry, your not the only one, after a drink like this, anyone would believe in love at first sight. Once you give into the visual temptress, your taste buds will agree with your eyes, screaming “oh yes.”
The Mojito derives from the African word “mojo,” which means “little spell.” Dating back to the day's of Sir Frances Drake, the concoction was called the Draque. The Draque was invented by one of Drakes sailors, made with Aquardiente, an earlier ancestor of rum. When the ever famous Bacardi Masso opened his distillery, his rum was born. The Draque then became what we know and love today, “the Mojito.” Originally used for medical purposes, as were many other drinks, this sweet highball goes down easy.
This leisurely summertime drink will put you in a great mood, anytime. Simply concocted, the one thing you really have to remember is to bruise the mint leaves, not shred them. Bruising the leaves causes the oils to rise. You can bruise the leaves using a muddle, or a pestle. Firmly press down on the leaves using one of the tools mentioned before in a slow twisting motion. Be sure not to actually break the leaf, remember, the goal here is to only bruise them. Muddle enough to release the oils, if not, you will be left with a bland drink, to much will cause the drink to be overbearingly bitter.
I think the Mojito tastes best with white rum, lime, sugar, club soda, and “crushed” ice, all in a highball glass. When mixing the cocktail, I find it best to put the mint leaves, lime, and sugar in the glass before anything else. Reason being, after you put in the white rum, the ingredients seem as if they are swimming in the glass. This leaves the beverage seeming very visually stimulating, putting you in a splendid mood, reminding you to relax. Before adding the rum, muddle to your taste buds desire. After muddling, add the crushed ice, white rum, and club soda. Stir the cocktail until the sugar dissolves to your liking. Finally, garnish the drink with mint leaves and a lime wheel. After the beverage is ready, I like to let it sit for a few minutes before drinking. This let's the flavor's meld together in a refreshing manner.