A mojito is a rum-based cocktail traditionally made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and fresh mint. It's the fresh mint that makes this drink unavailable at most bars and restaurants, but we keep plenty on hand to mix a mojito anytime that you're thirsty for one. July 11 happens to be National Mojito Day, so in honor of this delicious drink, today's blog features a few interesting facts about its history.
Mojito Origins
Havana, Cuba is said to be the birthplace of the mojito. We discovered two possible origins about how this drink came to be.
Story #1
Many believe that it is fashioned after a drink from the 16th century originally called "El Draque." It was named after Sir Francis Drake who led a successful raid at Cartagena de Indias in 1586. As his ships were sailing toward Havana, an epidemic of dysentery and scurvy broke out on board. A small group from the ship went ashore on Cuba to retrieve the ingredients for a remedy that the local South American Indians were said to possess.
These ingredients included aguardiente de caña, which translates to mean "burning water." This was a crude form of the rum we know today made from sugar cane. This was mixed with other local ingredients of lime, sugar cane juice, and mint. The extra ingredients helped to hide the harsh taste of the liquor. Apparently, the lime alone probably would have helped to prevent the epidemic, but this route gave us the beginnings of the mojito of today.
Story #2
The other story that we came across is the account of some historians that believe the drink was invented by the African slaves who worked in the Cuban sugar cane fields in the 19th century. A popular drink among them was Guarapo, which is the sugar cane juice that is often used to make mojitos. The original mojito that arose from this version did not contain any lime juice.
Mojitos at Shorty Pants Lounge
We not only offer our own take on the original mojito recipe at our Cajun restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks, but we've also come up with a few flavorful variations we believe you will enjoy.
Mojito
A refreshing concoction of light rum and freshly muddled lime, mint leaves, simple syrup, and club soda. For extra flavor, you can also substitute one of our flavored rums, like strawberry, key lime, passion fruit, black cherry, or raspberry.
Pineapple Mojito
Cruzan Pineapple Run mojito muddled with grilled pineapples.
Ginger Mojito
Our classic mojito with a ginger twist.
Turbo Mojito
Cruzan Coconut Rum mojito with a floater of Cruzan 151.
Blackberry Mojito
Our classic mojito muddled with blackberries.
The next time that you come in for a plate of the best Cajun food at the Lake of the Ozarks or a for a cocktail break, consider giving one of our freshly muddled mojitos a try. With all of the different choices we have for you at Shorty Pants Lounge & Marina, there's bound to be at least one that will hit the spot nicely.
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