Hats off to the mojito

In the calendar devoted to drinking and dining, put an asterisk next to July 11. It's National Mojito Day and a very good excuse to try this refreshing cocktail.

The rum drink from Cuba has been in and out of favor faster than countless governments. The cocktail probably got its last boost when Pierce Brosnan's James Bond ordered one in "Die Another Day."  This was not the reason he'd be replaced by Daniel Craig.

Salvatore Calabrese's "Complete Home Bartender's Guide"  (Sterling, 2002) provides the following recipe.

Put one teaspoon superfine sugar and two-thirds ounce of lime juice in a tall glass with a thick base. Add some mint leaves and muddle them with a spoon to release the mintiness. Add one and two-thirds ounces of white rum and fill the glass with crushed ice. Top it with sparkling water. Stir and serve with a stirrer.

And any respectable bartender should be able to make one.

Calabrese advises that Havana's Bodeguita del Medio Bar served this cocktail starting at dawn.

Cuba libre, indeed.

In the calendar of dining and drinking, put an asterisk next to July 11. Tomorrow is National Mojito Day. And, given the weather, it's a holiday to celebrate.

The Cuban rum drink has fallen in and out of favor faster than any number of governments in recent years. It probably got its last boost when Pierce Brosnan's James Bond decided to order one in "Die Another Day." No, that's no why he was replaced by Daniel Craig.

Salvatore Calabrese's "Complete Home Bartender's Guide (Sterling, 2002) includes this recipe.

Put one teaspoon of superfine sugar and two-thirds ounce of lime juice in a highball glass. Add a bunch of mint leaves and muddle with a bar spoon to release the mintiness. Add one-and-two-thirds ounces of white rum. Fill the glass with crushed ice and top it with sparkling water. Stir the cocktail and serve with a stirrer.

Calabrese advises that Havana's Bodeguita del Medio Bar serves only mojitos and does so starting at dawn.

Cuba libre, indeed.