Hemingway's Cuban Mojito
As inspired by Havana's La Bodeguita del Medio
A recent trip to Cuba was rendered more complete with the purchase of a tall, cool glass of Mojito- a rum infused cocktail that helps extinguish the tropical heat.
You may have heard that American writer Ernest Hemingway drank his way around much of the world, but when he lived and wrote in Havana, Cuba, the Mojito was his drink of choice and his favourite watering hole was the humble little boite, La Bodeguita del Medio (the little shop in the middle). Nowadays, La BdelM as it’s known for short, is an almost-obligatory stop-over for either Hemingway fans, visiting artists and writers, and of course, curious tourists from all over the globe.
The day I stopped by recently, I had to push my way past a swaying throng of Spanish tourists singing over the more in-synch voices of local musicians playing their Cuban “sons.” Past the happy tourists, I was able to secure a tall, cool glass of my favourite libation, the Mojito. If you’ve read my past missive on the beverage, you’ll know the cocktail has a dubious and exotic history (pirates and swashbucklers make a requisite appearance). Whatever the reality behind the lore, one thing is certain- a well prepared Mojito should not taste like a peppermint patty, nor should you be picking bits of mint from your teeth like so many lawn-mowed blades of grass (yes, I’ve sampled both unfortunate and lack-lustre versions).
Happily, the hard working barkeep (pictured above) making row after row of Cuba’s most famous cocktail, made a solid Mojito worthy of the bar fly collection that wouldn’t give up their comfy seats come hurricane or less patient patrons jostling around them. I watched as the guayabera clad (a trad Cuban shirt) mixologist muddled some mint with the bright yellow BdelM swizzle/muddling sticks, poured amber Havana Club rum over ice, topped it with sparkling club soda, added sugar and a hit of fresh lime juice. Goodness knows I had time to watch as I inched my way to the bar past the sun and rum soaked crowds. If you get a chance to visit Havana and get to the famed bar, take a good look at the signed walls- if you’re patient, you’ll see Errol Flynn, Nat King Cole and of course Hemmingway himself has signed the walls for posterity.
To welcome the warmer weather (I say optimistically as it’s a balmy 2 degrees celscius in mid-April Toronto!), I offer you all my version of The Mojito. I think Hemingway would approve!
The Mojito (as inspired by Havana’s Bodeguita del Medio’s Version):
Ingredients-
- 2 or 3 sprigs of fresh, good quality mint
- 3 tbsp of fresh lime (or lemon and lime) juice
- 1 ½ oz of light or amber (preferably) rum
- 2 tsp of demerara sugar
- Chilled Club Soda or Seltzer
Method:
In a tall, thin (ideally chilled) glass, muddle the mint (you can use a fork but don’t flake or cut up the mint, a pestle works best) in the glass. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir until sugar is fully dissolved. Top with lots of ice, add rum, a swizzle stick (or thin piece of cane to really add some tropical heat to your cocktail) and mix. Top off with the club soda or seltzer, add a slice of lime and enjoy on a hot summer’s day (or night)!
