Mojito

Ah, my dearest connoisseur of the exquisite, picture if you will, a beverage so invigorating, so imbued with the zest of life, that to sip it is to dance barefoot on the dew-kissed lawns of an eternal summer morning. The Mojito, a potion of such verdant vivacity, it could coax a smile from even the most stoic of souls.

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) of white rum, as clear and pure as the intentions of a debutante.
• 1 oz (30 ml) fresh lime juice, the essence of citrus groves basking in the sun’s embrace.
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sugar, sweet whispers of love’s first blush.
• 6 fresh mint leaves, plucked from the garden of Eden itself, no doubt.
• Soda water, the effervescent spirit of the rivers of Arcadia.
• Ice, the crystalline canvas upon which our masterpiece is painted.

Directions

1. In a glass that has stories to tell, muddle the mint with sugar and lime juice. This is not mere preparation; it is an act of alchemy, transforming the mundane into the magical.
2. Gently bruise the mint leaves with the muddler to release their essence, a fragrant prelude to enchantment.
3. Add the rum, a libation to the gods of joy and jubilation, then fill the glass with ice, a fortress to preserve the purity of our concoction.
4. Top with soda water, a veil of mystery over our potion, then stir with the elegance of a maestro conducting an orchestra of flavors.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig, a green flame burning eternal in the heart of the drink.

Tips

• Choose your rum as one might choose a dance partner; it should complement your rhythm and elevate the performance.
• The freshness of your mint and lime cannot be overstated; they are the soul of the Mojito, the very essence of its allure.
• The act of muddling is a sacred rite; too gentle, and the flavors shy away, too harsh, and the bitterness overshadows the melody.

Calories & Alcohol

In our denouement, my beloved aficionados, the Mojito is not just a cocktail; it is a celebration, a jubilant chorus of flavors and aromas that sings of endless summers and whispered secrets in moonlit gardens.

As we curtain close our liquid sonnet, this verdant vessel harbors approximately 137 calories, with the alcohol content gracefully twirling at about 1.5 standard drinks (1.8 AU). A small price for a sip of eternal youth.