As some of you know I have been on a diet so when I have been allowing myself a sundowner I have been conscious of how many calories I am having! Spritzers get a bit on the dull side and so I consulted my trusty cocktail book and decided that the Mojito was the diet drink of choice for last night! (Mind you, only the one otherwise it is a bit of a pointless exercise!).
The Mojito was first made in Cuba where rum was served to slaves for medicinal purposes (no really) and mint, water and sugar was added for a pick-me-up. It literally means “something a little wet” – Mojito sound nicer!
It is still hot until late into the evening and so this lovely cooling drink is just the thing and very easy (like a lot of cocktails).
Ingredients
1 tsp white sugar (or low calorie sweetener if you are really serious about the calories!)
a good squeeze of Lime juice (you can use lemon if you don’t have limes in the house)
a handful of mint sprigs (this is essential so if, unlike me, you don’t have a herb patch, you need to pop out and get some). Don’t cut off the stalks because there is a lot of mint oil in them which enhances the flavour.
Soda water
50ml white rum
A dash of Angostura bitters (anyone who likes cocktails will always have a bottle of this strange stuff!!!)
Slices of lime to serve
138k calories per cocktail – yippee
Put the sugar in the bottom of a glass and pour the citrus juice over just to cover.
Add 2 long sprigs of Mint and gently “pound” with a spoon.
Add lots of ice and fill two-thirds full with soda.
Add the rum, stir and then add a dash of the bitters.
Throw in a couple of slices of lime and enjoy!
Yummy Almeria 
Hey, hey… my favourite cocktail!
Lest we forget that one of the many ways the drink gained popularity was through the writer Ernest Hemingway who favoured the drink particularly made in Bodeguita del medio, Havana.
Great to meet you today 🙂