The Classic Mojito

Submitted by dschommer on Tue, 04/21/2009 - 16:37

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On a warm day, there is nothing better than a nice classic Mojito. The Mojito is probably one of the most popular drinks in the United States right now. Originally, we created two mojito's with pre-made kits, but this episode we're doing it old school: homemade.

The classic homemade Mojito has a great history, great taste and isn't that incredibly hard to create. You'll need a Wooden Bar Cocktail Muddler muddler to do the job, but you can get those online pretty easy.

I hope you enjoy the show, I also wanted to take a few moments to thank everyone for the great e-mails, recipe submissions and kind comments. Over the last few weeks I've had tons of e-mails from around the world telling me how they love the show, love the recipes and have given some great suggestions on future recipes.

Your comments and feedback makes us feel we've found our own niche in Internet video; it gives us a reason to keep recording future episodes!

Show Links:

Awesome Drinks

Our Cavalino Tequila Review

Comments

There's nothing quite as

Submitted by bacchus on Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:09.

There's nothing quite as refreshing as a well made mojito IMO, but I've just about given up on making them myself. They taste good when I use the Rose's mix, but whenever I try to make one from scratch, they taste poor to say the least. I don't know if I'm not muddling the mint correctly, or if I'm using too much mint. The first time I tried, I didn't have a muddler, so I just used a spoon. Then I got a muddler, and the results were no better. I've had success at making your other cocktails, but I totally suck at mojitos!!

that's ok

Submitted by philm on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 05:44.

there's always a chance that you're making perfect mojitos, just have different preferences from others :) perhaps you got used to taste achieved with mixes?
as Derrick said - try to think what is that bothers you and than try to revise your recipe.
is it too sweet? use less sugar (simple syrup) or more lime... too sour? etc. etc.

for me the easiest way to ruin a mojito is excessive use of soda water.

Good call on the excessive

Submitted by bacchus on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 01:08.

Good call on the excessive use of soda water. I cut it down to next to nothing and it was an improvement, although still not to my taste. I'm going to have to keep on experimenting. It's just frustrating because I feel like I'm wasting good rum on mediocre mojitos. Thanks for the input. :)

Mojito

Submitted by dschommer on Sun, 12/13/2009 - 11:02.

What does the mojito taste like that you don't like? Is there too much mint? Is it the texture, too sweet? Too much alcohol?

The sweetness and alcohol are

Submitted by bacchus on Sun, 12/13/2009 - 19:15.

The sweetness and alcohol are fine, it just has too much mint for my taste. The frustrating thing is that I just had some mojitos at my company christmas party, and they tasted great. It made me want to try again. I reduced the number of leaves but it still tastes too strong to me. I don't know if I'm tearing the leaves when I'm muddling them, or what. Do you have any suggestions?

mint

Submitted by philm on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 06:47.

decrease the number of mint leaves if this is what makes the drink unpleasant to you :)
forget the recipe, experiment and twist it till you're satisfied with a beverage. that's how my everydaydrinker approach to cocktails looks like :) I start with a classic/original recipe (and try to remember it for the future, if someone wants a classic/original drink from me), and if I feel something does not suit my preferences, I try to find a way to make it better.

Yeah

Submitted by dschommer on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 11:26.

For me, I try to up the quantity of mint. For the show, I try to average things out or look through a bunch of recipe variations and analyze the most common practice or "accepted" recipe practice. I believe 12 mint leaves is normal practice, some use six, some use twenty four. It may also depend on the size of the leaves and how fresh they are.

Overall, I'm here to get you more creative, you can take it down whatever path makes you happiest.

I respect your mad cocktail

Submitted by bacchus on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 01:22.

I respect your mad cocktail skills Derrick, but 12 mint leaves is just crazy IMO. Unless you like sucking on mentholyptus! haha :)

12 leaves

Submitted by dschommer on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 08:39.

Yeah, I don't use 12 leaves for a number of reasons, one being that it can drain away your materials. If you're using 12 leaves per drink, serving two drinks to five different people you've pretty much eaten away at a whole mint bush :)

Mint suggestion

Submitted by Vygantas on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 06:02.

Just do like this, take few leafs of mint, put them in your hand and "clap" one time (not like just a clap, but bit stronger (and not super strong)), then drop to glass and that's it, no muddling.

Let me know results :-)

Proud to be awesome.

It tasted better, but I still

Submitted by bacchus on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 01:15.

It tasted better, but I still haven't found my ideal mojito. I don't know if I'm just unrealistic in trying to attain restaurant quality, but I'd rather not make mojitos if the result is going to be mediocre. I'll keep trying, thanks for the input! :)

Mint Spanking

Submitted by dschommer on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 11:23.

Yeah, spanking the mint expresses the oils. I'd do that over using a spoon as tearing will cause "floaties" which get stuck in our mouth, tongue and otherwise mintify your face.

simple syrup

Submitted by xcorvis (not verified) on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 20:33.

I've seen you use that simple syrup for quite a few episodes, but it sounds like you've had it for way, way longer than most people recommend, which is usually 2 weeks. When I make 1:1 syrup it usually gets nasty little floatie bits in the middle after 3 or 4 weeks, then I toss it When I make 2:1 (2 cups sugar to 1 cup water), it's so sugar heavy that nothing can grow in it. That one I had for 12 weeks (big batch, just finished it today) and it was perfectly clear to the end. I've also heard of folks putting a tiny bit of everclear or other high-proof neutral spirit in it to keep bacteria from forming.

Not that long, simply syrup never seems to last

Submitted by dschommer on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 20:42.

The first batch I had for a bit, a few weeks at least and never had any problems or floaties. Was always clear. However, lately, I'm lucky if it lasts two weeks :) I try to stick with a 1:1 ratio and only make one cup that way it goes quicker and doesn't hang out.

Bärenjäger

Submitted by Greg Schwartz (not verified) on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 22:04.

Can't wait to see what you're going to do with that bottle of Bärenjäger. Just bought a bottle myself. Mmmmm, loves it. I tried the Butter Be Good shot, which I got from the little booklet that came with the bottle, but I see is also on their website. Delicious, but I'm not patient enough nor steady-of-hand enough for pousse-cafés.

lol, Butter Be Good is Sunday's Show :)

Submitted by dschommer on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 22:06.

I layered the Butter Bee Good for this upcoming Sunday--from the book on the bottle :)

Light Rums???

Submitted by Le Pondre on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 23:00.

I've been waiting on this one...and you do not disappoint.

So Derrick (or anyone), other than 10 Cane, what other light rums do you recommend? Unfortunately, I've only had Bacardi, and frankly, it's not that great as I'm sure you know. I was just looking for a light rum that was less expensive than 10 Cane, but still good quality. Thanks!

Depending on where you're located

Submitted by dschommer on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 23:06.

I'm still hunting down other light rum alternatives, you can try Cruzan Light Rum, that's on my list to get (http://cruzanrum.com/). I've had their single malt and that was quality stuff. You may try a nice Silver Spiced rum from Captain morgan, that's also on my list to try. We've got an upcoming audio podcast on Mojito's and one of the folks was pretty happy with the Captain morgan Silver spiced rum.

Brave Spirits, if you can get it, is a great quality light rum as well. I tried a mojito this weekend that was 1 oz. Brave Spirits light rum and 1 oz. Parrot Bay Mango rum and that was excellent. Not too sweet, not too mango, a good balance.

10 cane is a bit price I've noticed.

Looking forward to the Mojito podcast

Submitted by Le Pondre on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 20:12.

Awesome, thanks for the recommendations!

I have to edit the podcast

Submitted by dschommer on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 21:33.

Unfortunately, I'll be editing the upcoming audio show, gotta find a bit o' time to do it, but I'll get it done and try to get it out later this week.
We've got HelloVin

Happy Berfday

Submitted by Richard Ritter on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 21:51.

Happy Birthday Derrick. You're a simple man..."give me an ice maker". I don't know if you've made one yet, but I always see it on the diner placemats...the Singapore Sling.

lol, yes, I am easy to please

Submitted by dschommer on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 22:11.

If I can make ice, I'm a happy guy. Saves me $2.00 everytime I go to the store to buy a bag 'o ice. :)

Mojitos are great!! I didn't

Submitted by Ive shp on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 06:16.

Mojitos are great!! I didn't tried black one but white is great for summer time :) Happy birthday!!! hope you got that ice maker :) keep up the good work!! cheers from Croatia! :)

No Ice maker Yet

Submitted by dschommer on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 10:04.

Although my birthday was yesterday my parents were going to get me the ice maker, they're out on vacation and we're celebrating my birthday a bit late (early May) so I'll know then if I got what I asked for :-)

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BIRTHDAY MAN! :)

Submitted by boxotikis on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 04:29.

Yayyy the Cavalino sponsorship begins! :)

Oh my god was it really your birthday yesterday, Derrick??? HAPPY FREAKING BIRTHDAY!!! So sorry that I missed it by over 4 hours :( How was your birthday, though?? Did you get that ice maker you wanted? :)

Also, the Mojito's the one drink (& maybe the Mai Tai) that I always said I'd refuse to ever make people as a bartender... seems like such a long & arduous process making it/them (I guess it's also making it pretty), but after actually seeing someone MAKE it now, it actually doesn't seem too time-consuming as I'd thought. Maybe now I can give it a try :)

Haha & you really went through those 2 rums quickly, Derrick! The last time I remember you using them they were each over halfway full! Haha, been trying to test out those breathalyzers much? :)

& HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, DERRICK!!! Sorry again for missing it but I hope it was GREAT!!

Mojito's are easier to make than Zombies

Submitted by dschommer on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 10:06.

I believe I can probably make four mojito's before I'd be able to finish making one zombie, even with the garnishes prepared ahead of time. The Mojito has such simple ingredients that you can just muddle it up and go without very much work at all.

The goslings is a record for consumption, perhaps because I tested out the mojito's ahead of time with different combinations and measurements that I burned through that 750ml bottle; still, that was very fast :)

Hopefully I'll get the ice maker for my late birthday party (in May with the parents).

Thanks!