It is too bloody hot in Boulder right now.  With the thermometer reading in the low 90′s today, the only thing on my mind during work was going home and making something cold and light for dinner (turned out to be a wedge salad) and a refreshing cocktail to go alongside it.

I’m not a fan of many froufrou drinks or cocktails out there.  Mostly I enjoy highballs, gin martinis or a good dark beer.  I usually steer clear of sweet drinks but there’s something about the fizzy, refreshing and clean taste a mojito has that I just can’t resist.  It’s my favorite summer drink next to Absolut Citron with cranberry juice and since the strawberries in my fridge were just begging to be used, I decided to make my usual mojito even more seasonal.

There are a multitude of ways to make mojitos, with most variations on what kind of sweetener to use.  You can go with plain sugar (granulated, superfine or powdered), honey, or simple syrup, which is my choice.  I like that it dissolves the smoothest and you can use simple syrup for so many other things, it never hurts to have it around.  Especially if you plan to make one of these every night while the heat blazes on.

Strawberry Mojitos

Serves 1 (generously)

Ingredients

• ½ of a small lime, cut into 4 pieces
• 12-14 small mint leaves
• 4 strawberries, washed and cored
• 1 oz simple syrup (recipe below) or 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 2 oz white rum (I like Bacardi)
• Club soda
• Ice

Directions

1.) In a large highball or 10-12 oz glass add the lime, 3 of the strawberries, mint and simple syrup.  Muddle everything with either a muddler of the thick handle of a wooden spoon (or anything else that resembles a muddler.  Go nuts.)  Be sure to crush everything really well, you want the mint to release its oils and the sugar to get mixed in, especially if you use table sugar.

2.) Fill the glass almost to the brim with ice and then pour the rum over the top. Cut the remaining strawberry into wedges and add to the glass.  Top with club soda and then give everything a good stir, or shake with another glass acting as the lid.

3.) Sip with a straw and cool off at a leisurely pace.

Notes: Feel free to replace the strawberry with any other fruit you like – blueberries, blackberries, etc.  And to make a “virjito” – omit the rum and double simple syrup, lime, strawberries and mint.

Simple Syrup

Ingredients

• 2 parts sugar
• 1 part water

Directions

1.) Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Swirl the pan as it cooks, but don’t let it caramelize.

2.) Reduce by a third and then set aside to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container and keep in the fridge pretty much indefinitely.

3 Responses to “strawberry mojitos”