The Mojito was created on the island of Cuba and is one of the country’s cultural icons. Like the majority of cocktails, there are several stories surrounding its origin.

One story links the drink to the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake, who was travelling to the city of Havana in the 1500s when an epidemic of scurvy and dysentery hit his ship. The local South American Indians were known to have remedies for tropical illnesses, so the ingredients were gathered from Cuba and formed into ‘El Draque’ – a cocktail of aguardiente (a crude form of rum), lime, sugar and mint. The lime juice would have helped significantly in fighting off the illnesses, and the mint and sugar helped to hide the harsh taste of the rum.

Others say the drink was created thanks to the African slaves who worked in the Cuban sugar cane fields during the 19th century. Sugar cane juice called Guarapo was popular amongst the slaves and is often used to make mojitos.

Ernest Hemingway became a big fan of the cocktail following a visit to a local Cuban bar called ‘La Bodeguita del Medio’.

The mojito regained popularity in 2002 after it played a prominent role in a scene in the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day’, with James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) using the drink to seduce Jinx (Halle Berry).

Ingredients:
1½ limes, cut into slices or wedges
20 fresh mint leaves
2½ tsp granulated sugar
65ml white rum
Splash of soda water or lemonade
Ice
Fresh mint sprig to garnish

Method:
1. Place the limes, mint and sugar into a highball glass and mash with the end of a clean rolling pin to bruise the mint and release the lime juice.

2. Add the ice and pour over the rum.

3. Add soda water or lemonade to taste and stir well. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

Why not have a Mocktail?
For a non–alcoholic alternative, simply omit the rum.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY