Mojito
The Mojito is a Cocktail consisting of Rum, Fresh Lime Juice, Sugar, Sodawater, Mint and Ice.
The Mojito may be the Cuban version of the Mint Julep, which has a history of being made with rum.
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History of the Mojito
"El Hijo alegre de la caña de azucar", by Fernando Campoamor
The Draquecito was named after Sir Francis Drake. At that time the drink was known in Cuba as “Draquecito” quotation needed
(Drake – Draque – Draquecito), later it became “Mojito”.
According to David Herpin
This drink is widely believed to be created in cuba at La Bodeguita del medio in old havana in the mid 19th century. Let's look at a few facts, This "Bar" appears to be more famous for it's cooking rather than it's drinking as seen in these publications:
Menu, La Bodeguita del Medio, Habana, Cuba in 1959
All around the world cookbook - Page 282 by Sheila Lukins in 1994
"first meal in Cuba was a great lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio in old Havana. One of my favorite dishes was mows y cristianos, mano a mano — Moors and Christians, hand to hand"
The timeframe is a bold lie. The "Mojito" name is only associated with a person prior to 1940, and not any person of any importance. This drink is a victim once again of a bar claiming to be it's proprietor when it is obviously not. Many stories claim that this drink was a favorite of Hemingway's, however, he never once wrote about his purported "favorite cocktail" which seems very odd.
The only evidence that he was ever there is reports of a sign either on the wall or hanging above the bar that supposively has his hand-writing on it as seen in these publications:
Sky juice and flying fish: traditional Caribbean cooking by Jessica B. Harris in 1991
"Some of the more famous hangouts of the era were Cuba's La) Bodeguita del Medio, where autographed walls are a testimony to pre- Castro glory days. The Mojito, a rum, spearmint, and tonic water drink said to be a favorite of Ernest"
Trading with the Enemy: A Yankee Travels Through Castro's Cuba - Page 168 by Tom Miller in 1996
"A sign hangs above the bar at La Bodeguita del Medio. In large, handwritten letters"
It is strange that the only piece of evidence supporting that Hemingway ever visited the location can not even be agreed upon. This only further validates that this "bar" obviously claimed this drink for themselves.
This drink is widely believed to contained lime juice and this may be because of the Daiquiri, much as we see with the Bacardi cocktail, the Mojito also never originally contained lime juice. Here are a few actual early printings of this drink:
Havana mañana: a guide to Cuba and the Cubans by Consuelo Kamholz Hermer, Marjorie May in 1941
"You, however, might like to try the native drink of mojito, which translates as "something a little wet.""
Lands of the inner sea, the West Indies and Bermuda by Walter Adolphe Roberts in 1948
"A mojito is made with Bacardi rum, aerated water, powdered sugar, and a sprig of mint."
This drink dates between 1932 - 1940 and contained at least as of then:
Properly bruise the mint and place it in a highball glass
Pour these ingredients into the highball glass over the mint.
Rum (Bacardi as early as 1948)
Powered Sugar.
Strain these ingredients using a julep strainer into an ice filled mixing tin, shake well.
Fill the highball glass with fresh ice cubes (crushed ice is a modern addition) over the seasoned mint.
Strain the mixing tin into the ice filled highball glass.
Add Seltzer Water (Club Soda)
Lime Juice(modern, introduced to the drink as early as 1979)
Angostura Bitters (Modern, Introduced to the drink as early as 1981)
Official Bacardi Rum Quote
"Like the endless fields of sugarcane and the rows of rich tobacco, a drink called the Mojito (pronounced moe-hee-toe) seemed to spring up from the Cuban heartland and capture the soul of its people. The Mojito was originally named the Draque. It was in the mid-nineteenth century, at the same time Don Facundo Bacardi originated his charcoal-mellowed BACARDI rums, that the Draque’s original recipe was adjusted. Changed to include rum, the new concoction was named Mojito. Shortly thereafter, Cubans everywhere were making them with Cuba’s original rum, BACARDI. The Mojito became not just a pastime but a national passion. By the mid-1920’s, the Mojito was, unofficially at least, the national drink of Cuba."
Historical References
"Cuban Cookery, including Cuban Drinks", by De Baralt (Blanche Z.), 1931
RUM COCKTAIL (Cuban mojo)
In medium size glass put :
- One teaspoonful sugar
- Juice and rind of a green lime
- Sprig of mint
- One jigger Bacardi Rum
- Several pieces of ice
- Fill glass with soda water.
- Serve with a long spoon.
"Sloppy Joe's" (Bar Menu), 1934
MOJITO
- 1 Teaspoonful of sugar
- One half of lime
- 1 Part of Rum
- Seltzer water
- Leaves of Mint
- Shell of lime
- Serve in a High Ball glass, with cracked ice.
"Bartender's Guide", by Trader Vic, 1947
- 1/2 lime
- 3 sprigs mint
- 1 tsp. bar sugar
- 2 oz. Puerto Rico rum
Squeeze lime and drop shell in 10 oz. glass; add sugar to juice and mint leaves and muddle. Fill glass with shaved ice; pour rum over ice; stir or swizzle until glass frosts. Add dash of charged water; garnish with mint and serve with straws.
Cuban Recipes
Dom Costa provided the Following quote:
This is how they prepare Mojitos at "La Bodeguita del Medio":
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/4 oz fresh lime juice
- two mint sprigs (not a forest !)
- crush gently ,( you don't need to make a "pesto" sauce or a puree !!)
- add 1/12 oz white cuban rum
- add ice
- add two oz soda water
- stir well
- garnish with a sprig of mint
"You know, I asked the head bartender at La Bodeguita if I could go behind the bar with other 4 bartenders and prepare few Mojitos for us, he agreed, and followed us step by step, and the way described above is the correct procedure of making a genuine Cuban Mojito,after all at La bodeguita they made Mojito famous all over the world, why should they be wrong?"
Variations on the Mojito
- Mojito Fidel - Mojito topped with beer instead of Sodawater.
- Mojito Criollo
- Old Cuban
- Draque
- Dirty Mojito - made with gold rum rather than light rum
