Let’s Talk about Mixology, Part 45

by Amer A. Vargas

Strawberry-Lemonade Mojito

The good cocktail “enjoyer” will always be able to find a reason, or perhaps just an excuse, to amuse his palate with an interesting mix: Over the past few days, a not-so-nice heat wave has been hitting and heating western Europe, with temperatures of up to 45 degrees C/113 degrees F in some places. So, time for a cocktail…a most refreshing cocktail!

On this occasion, I would like to call on an original Mojito adaptation by our friends at www.foodnetwork.ca (see original recipe here). In this revised version, sugar is replaced by agave syrup (or even sugarcane syrup if you like), so that the drink offers a more-even taste throughout its consumption, as opposed to the original recipe, which relies on drawing up sugar from the bottom of the glass with a straw for that extra sweetness (which is an enjoyable game for some drinkers, all the same).

In any case, this is what we need for a Strawberry-Lemonade Mojito: 2 lemon wedges, 2 strawberries, 6-8 mint leaves, a mint sprig, 6 cl/2 oz of rum (of your or your client’s preference), a tablespoon of agave or sugar syrup, a couple of dashes of lemon juice, club soda, ice cubes, and crushed ice.

The “clean” version of this cocktail calls for muddling a strawberry, the lemon wedges and mint leaves in the cocktail shaker, but if you would like to use the classical way of preparing it, you would do it in a lowball glass. Once muddled, add the rum, the 2 dashes of lemon juice, the syrup and ice and shake.

Fill a lowball glass with crushed ice and pour about 1/3 of club soda, then strain the mix into each glass and stir to harmonize the concoction. Finish by garnishing with a strawberry and a mint sprig.

Simple, fruity, refreshing, sweet, delicious…enjoy while you relax in the shade!

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President—feel free to contact him via email, AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.