PrintThe Perfect Mojito?
Somehow a number of years ago when we started out "Girl's Weekend", and subsequent reunion parties to share our trip photos, we began a quest for the perfect Mojito. I have always had a reprieve from participating in the creation of said Mojito since I forked up for the party cake (another subject for another day!). Not so lucky this year! On March 22nd, the girls will be getting together for dinner to talk about this year's big weekend away. I am stuck with the task and I really need your help!! If I survive this event, i am good to go for a few years at least.
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13 Comments:
Definitely use fresh ingredients. No need to go out and buy a mortar and pestle, but simulate that effect when you muddle the mint and lime. I would use a decent rum like Bacardi or better (it depends on if your friends are used to Top Shelf quality).
Some people don't like all the mint and lime bits floating in their drinks, so if you have a martini strainer, you could strain the drinks into martini glasses. A nice garnish would be a lime slice or stick of sugar cane. Enjoy!
LiveToEat at 9:50AM on 03/11/08
I mean, the fresh lime/fresh mint/good rum are kind of a given, but my secret ingredient is 10x sugar! Not so much that it makes your teeth hurt, but after concocting the drink with the other ingredients, add about a half teaspoon per 12 oz or so, adjust according to your personal taste.
Also, if you're ever in nyc, there's a place aptly named "Mojito" in North Brooklyn that has pitchers to die for. And I think the food it good too, but um, the mojitos are strong.
savecara at 10:03AM on 03/11/08
the 10X sugar is a great idea from savecara... you could also use simple syrup and not have to worry about the sugar dissolving at all. I'll also echo what LiveToEat says about Using good rum... Top shelf or not, if a mediocre rum is used, the maximum result you can ever attain is a mediocre end product. AND LEAVE THE PLASTIC LIMES AT THE GROCERY STORE! Bon Chanc;)
Pavlov at 11:33AM on 03/11/08
My husband makes great mojitos and juleps using a simple syrup steeped with fresh mint. Strain out the mint before using. Make the syrup a day or so ahead...keeps in the fridge about a week.
When assembling the drink DO use a couple of mint leaves, just bruise them a little to release some of the volatile oils, a quarter of a lime if the limes are large, half if the limes are small. We like crushed ice, not shaved, but plenty of it.
You can buy a muddler at Williams Sonoma or Crate & Barrell really inexpensively, or just use any wooden kitchen utensil with a blunt end that will fit into a pint glass. Remember to keep the pressure directed straight down, any lateral pressure on the side of a glass can result in breakage and possible injury (not mention wasting precious mojito ingredients). The lime and mint does NOT need to be worked into oblivion--just encouraged to release some oils.
We have also conducted mojito tastings made the old fashioned way (very good & preferred); made in a blender (we do NOT recommend, it tends to extract too much from the mint and lime); and made using Marti Mojito rum (very good results using this mint infused rum).
I do not generally like the trendy, sugary pre-mixed liquor drinks, esp anything that is capitalizing on the popularity of a particular drink and the gullibility of the home bartender (first cosmos & appletinis, now mojitos), but I will say the Marti Mojito Rum is tasty and works well for easy entertaining. You still need to have the lime, mint, & simple syrup (without steeping the mint), but more for garnish/freshness and not so much for being the flavor base of the drink.
I love having the girls over, too! Mine will be in 5 1/2 weeks, two are pregnant, so I am going to have to stretch and come up with some fun "mocktails" for the mommies...alcoholic drinks are much easier for my hubby and me. LOL.
Hope you have fun and I hope YOUR mojitos blow everyone else's out of the water!
wookie at 4:51PM on 03/11/08
@wookie.... maybe it was the mojitos that got the mommies that way? :)
Pavlov at 4:58PM on 03/11/08
@pavlov--LOL, right, our Magical Mommy-Making Mojitos! I do recall one of our friends credited our parties with some of their children! :D
wookie at 5:06PM on 03/11/08
@wookie....... Thanks for the detailed directions. Wish me luck! No babies for this crowd. We are waaayyyy too old.
@savecara....... If I understand you, just 10X, no simple syrup?
Will definitely buy top shelf rum, already own a mortar & pestle. Is there a particular type of mint I should look for? No one who uses plastic limes are permitted to join the fun. AND this crew is waaayyyy to old for babies!
crazyspice at 5:53PM on 03/11/08
Our preference has always been spearmint. But really the mint acts as a "refresher" so any mint you find at the market will work great.
Use either the simple syrup OR the 10x sugar as your sweetener. It really comes down to how you stock your bar. Most bars keep simple sugar on the rail b/c it's faster to pick up a bottle of simple syrup with a pourer in it rather than to grab the container of 10x. While the 10x dissolves faster than regular table sugar, the simple syrup is already dissolved. Both have fans, I'm just used to the simple syrup.
The latest trend involving mojitos has been the addition of other flavors: mango, lemongrass, lychee, strawberry, raspberry, etc. I like to think I'm a purist, but will admit that some versions are tasty (lemongrass) and some versions are pure sugar intended for the newly...never mind, I'm about to go off on a rant!
We all forgot to mention the soda water. Don't forget to top with soda. It adds to the "refreshing" quality that mojitos are known for.
wookie at 6:43PM on 03/11/08
@wookie........ I am totally going to nail this next weekend! I normally do not consume refined sugar and will probably only have one, but it will be a proud one! Many thanks!
crazyspice at 8:48PM on 03/11/08
@crazyspice and "the girls": Cheers!
wookie at 1:18PM on 03/12/08
I'm crashing that party!!! ;)
@wookie - mint steeped in the simple syrup - genius! I can use that tip for sweetened iced tea, too. another, why didn't I think of that moment. my mint should appear any minute now, ready to mow down anything in it's path..
@crazyspice......start your cookbook yet?
PerkyMac at 1:54PM on 03/12/08
cheesecake factory uses a mint steeped simple syrup with their green tea iced tea. yum!
lexophile at 2:18PM on 03/12/08
@PerkyMac.......Do my many pages of handwritten notes count as a start????
crazyspice at 9:46PM on 03/13/08