What else to do with the Mint? Make Mojitos!!!

It's almost summer time, Memorial Day Weekend is here and we got all this fresh mint... let's make Mojitos.

A mojito is a traditional Cuban drink normally made with five basic ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime, carbonated water, and mint. The drink is a combination of sweetness, refreshing citrus and mint flavors that all compliment the rum.

General Preparation

1) In a tall narrow glass, crush/muddle part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside of the glass
2) Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly to incorporate the ingredients
3) Mix in ice and rum (or alcohol)
4) Top off with *chilled* club soda, seltzer or carbonated water
5) Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve

The recipes below are a series of different variations of mojitos- some traditional and some modern.

Classic Cuban Mojito

3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda

Classic Mojito - Low Carb Version

2 sprigs fresh mint
3 wedges fresh lime
12 drops Sweet 10 sugar substitute
Crushed ice
2 ounces rum
6 ounces club soda

Blackberry Mojito

1/4 cup blackberries*
3 mint leaves
1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 ounces white rum
Cracked ice

*Blackberries are soon to come into season. Fresh picked blackberries take this drink to a whole other level.

Mango-less Mango Mojito

1 1/2 oz Cruzan® mango rum
3 oz club soda
4 mint leaves
1 lime wedge

Mango "Mojito"

1 1/2 oz silver tequila**
3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 1/2 oz fresh mango juice***
1 splash club soda

** Rum can be used in place of tequila
***For more tropical flair- replace mango juice with passion fruit juice