One of my favourite restaurants on the island is Beach House in Grand Baie. It has the perfect location; right on the beach. We discovered this little gem more than 10 years ago when we visited Mauritius for the first time. The food was delicious and their cocktails were superb. Especially their mojito cocktails.
We visited Beach House again this past December and their mojito is still my favourite island cocktail. Since then, I have been on a quest to make my own mojitos at home to satisfy my craving.
But first, let’s look at where the mojito cocktail is from and then look at how to make a delicious one. The mojito conjures up images of tropical islands covered in sugar cane and coconut trees, white beaches, and endless summer. Mojito is a traditional Cuban rum-based punch.
The origins of this simple punch are rather less clear. According to some sources the drink is similar to an old slave medicinal drink made to curb disease. A moonshine rum-type alcohol was mixed with mint, lime, and sugar cane syrup to ward off illness.
At some stage during the 1580s, Pirate Drake arrived in the region. There was an epidemic of scurvy onboard his ship and the crew knew that the locals might have remedies. The landing party that went ashore, returned with the ingredients to make the local “medical” drink.
Today we know that it was the lime juice that cured the scurvy, but the other ingredients made it more appetising. Over time, this combination of white spirits, lime juice, a sweet element, and mint became a classic. No visit to a tropical island is complete without at least 1 mojito.
Also Read: Espresso Martini
My favourite Mauritian rum to use
Living in Mauritius, there are many wonderful rums to use. As with all cocktails, using fresh ingredients and good-quality alcohol makes the drinking experience so much more enjoyable. I have even seen some of these rums at Master of Malt. Some of my favourite island rums to use include:
Green Island rum: Readily available on the island and I have seen it in SA as well. It has a grassy and herbal nose and a taste that reminds me a bit of coconut.
Labourdonnais rum: lively profile with plenty of fresh, sweet, and herbaceous character. A get balance between sweetness and warming spice.
Chamarel White rum: Single estate white rum with notes of candy sticks, vanilla, and subtle tropical fruits.
St Aubin Classic White rum: rhum agricole with plenty of local notes.
Variations on the theme
There are many interesting variations on the basic mojito theme. A few of my personal favourite include:
- Grilled Pineapple mojito where the cocktail gets topped with pineapple juice and grilled pineapple chunks.
- Coconut Mojito where the rum gets replaced with coconut rum and some coconut cream added.
- Mango mojito where the cocktail gets topped with mango juice and mango pieces added.
- There is also a mojito blanco where the rum is replaced by tequila.
Also Read: Rum vs Whiskey
How to make a Mojito cocktail
Ingredients
- juice of 1 lime
- 2 tsp simple syrup
- a small handful of mint leaves, plus an extra sprig to serve
- 60ml white rum
- soda water
- ice
- slice of lime for garnish
Method
- Muddle the mint leaves, simple syrup, and lime wedges gently together to release the mint oils but not crush the leaves.
- Add the rum, fill the glass with ice, and stir.
- Top with soda to taste and garnish with a sprig of mint and a slice of lime.
Also Read: Maker’s Mark vs Maker’s 46 Bourbon
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