Mojitos de Cubanos - Que?

[Parvo Pup]

Here's the deal -

Mrs. Pup has planned a little BBQ party this weekend and wants me to serve Mojitos to the crowd. But I need a consensus from the legions regarding one of the ingredients.

I've got the basics down and ready - light rum, fresh garden mint, key limes, club soda, ice.

What bugs me is the "sugar" part.

Some recipes call for straight table sugar mixed with the rum. Ho-hum - Betty Crocker cooking seems to me.

Other recipes call for mixing up a simple syrup solution with the sugar and THEN adding that solution to the mix. Seem mas chic no?

Is there any difference in taste or style between the two?
Or will the SOB's be so stoned that they will drink anything that is free?

Give me a killer mojito recipe!

Gracias mi amigos gusanos.

[wicked_sick]

I was taught to make them with raw cane sugar.

Sugar, lime wedges, mint and smash it all up, add ice, then rum and stir it. top off with the club soda.

It is quicker to make it with SS, and lime juice, but in my opinion it doesn't taste as good.

[asandygal]

I need to go make myself a mojito... but I don't have mint, which is the core of that drink (I think...).... Will an Andes Mint work for both the mint and the sugar? ...???

Damn... why am I sitting in front of my computer on a Friday night???

[Tippster]

If you make them with raw sugar you need to put a stirrer in the drink. The sugar will not dissolve completely unless you stir the thing constantly. You can use the "easy dissolve" sugar or confectioner's sugar but it tastes wrong. If you're gonna use Cane sugar get Turbinado.

This is also how Mojitos are served in Cuba. (with the swizzle stick)

I prefer the simple syrup. Shake it all up, add the (ugh) soda, and wallah.

BTW, FYI, fwiw - the key to a good mojito is a muddler.



Muddle the lime slices, simple syrup, and mint together before adding the ice, rum, and (ugh) soda.

I much prefer filtered water to soda. can you tell?

[fez]

simple syrup will mix cleaner and quicker. cold liquids dont dissolve sugar very well. the muddling of the mint will probably dissolve lots of the sugar, but you will probably have some left in the bottom of the glass.

you can also get bartenders sugar, which is like 5x powdered and will dissolve pretty quickly. it is also called superfine or castor sugar. if you cant find it, you can put regular sugar in a blender until powdery.

[Tippster]

I need to go make myself a mojito... but I don't have mint, which is the core of that drink (I think...).... Will an Andes Mint work for both the mint and the sugar? ...???

Damn... why am I sitting in front of my computer on a Friday night???

I just threw up a little in my mouth - Chocolate? In a Mojito? ARE YOU INSANE?

You'd be much better served mashing up a tictac.

[asandygal]

Thanks... I'll try that

Best wishes with your Friday beverage makings... actually, I think I'll stick to my Captain and diet coke... with a tic tac chaser...

[Phall]

go with simple sugar... easier to mix with and a little easier overall.

[AbsolutStoli]

you need to squeeze one/2 lime(s) into a glass, add the mint and sugar, it all together. then add ice, rum, club soda, maybe more lime juice since key limes are tiny. shake all that up and enjoy. keep in mind, key limes are much sweeter than regular limes, so you might not need all that much sugar.

i wouldnt use simple syrup...i dont really like using shortcuts in drinks.

[snow_slider]

Listen to Tipp and heed what he says. I've had his mojitos and they are sublime!

[pappag]

In addition to the light rum, have some dark rum handy. Coconut and mango juice are nice additions.






For those in NYC and on a mojito kick, try Ideya.



Here's their drink menu:
buccaneer punch
dark rum, spiced rum, crème de cassis, simple syrup, lime & orange juice, grenadine, nutmeg

dark & stormy
brugal rum, ginger beer, ginger syrup

smoky margarita
monte alban mezcal, triple sec, lime juice, chili salt rim

biscochuelo
citrus vodka, mango rum, mango juice, lime juice, coconut cream

toronja teaser
hendricks gin, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, cucumber garnish

mambo
vodka, pineapple rum, chambord, pineapple juice, lime juice, soda

shango
shango rum liqueur, passion fruit juice, lime juice, 7-up

sangria roja
red wine, brandy, soda, orange juice, sugar

sangria blanca
white wine, brandy, mango juice, sugar

mojito (the best in nueva york)
don q white rum, sugar, fresh lime & mint leaves

dark mojito
matusalem clasico 10 year rum, sugar, fresh lime & mint leaves

coco mojo
cruzan coconut rum, coconut cream, fresh lime juice, mint leaves

mango mojo
cruzan mango rum, mango juice, fresh lime juice, sugar, mint leaves

banana mojo
cruzan banana rum, banana nectar, fresh lime juice, sugar, mint leaves

piña mojo
cruzan pineapple rum, pineapple juice, sugar, mint leaves

caipirinha
cachaça, fresh lime juice, sugar

ginger caipirinha
ginger infused cachaça, fresh lime juice, ginger syrup

margarita suprema
1800 reposado , citronage, orange juice, fresh lime juice

pisco sour
pisco, egg white, fresh lime juice, sugar