The Mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail which in recent years has become very popular in the United States. The traditional Mojito is made up of five ingredients: rum, sugar, lime, carbonated water and mint. The mint and lime are muddled together at the bottom of the cocktail shaker with a wooden tool called a “muddler” to release all the flavors of the lime and mint. The remaining ingredients are then added and poured over crushed ice in a tall glass. Garnished of course, with mint. The recipe below is renowned chef, Bobby Flay’s adaptation of the Mojito, including ginger and Thai basil. Delicious!

Yield: 1 drink

INGREDIENTS

2 lime wedges

6 mint leaves

4 Thai basil leaves

1 tablespoon Ginger Simple Syrup

1 ounce club soda

1 ounce white rum

Fine sugar

Ice

Coconut milk

PREPARATION

Place the lime, mint and Thai basil in a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Add Ginger Simple Syrup, club soda and rum and shake well.

Rim a tall glass with fine sugar and fill with ice. Pour drink over ice. Float coconut milk on top of the drink.

Ginger Simple Syrup

INGREDIENTS

½ cup sugar

½ cup water

1 (2-inch) piece ginger, thickly sliced

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Once cool, strain out the ginger.

Source: Bobby Flay – Food Network – Episode# BT0109