You can drink this! - Herbaceous Mojito

I consider myself a practical man. I do enjoy making drinks, but I don't like spending lots of money on specialty drinks. Using a little know-how, some canny drinkcrafting, and a few common ingredients; I make easy to create and delicious drinks that are perfect for the home bartender.

Ahhh yes, the Herbaceous Mojito. What a good drink for an experiment. It combines all of those wonderful flavors that drink tasters seek; savory, sweet, spicy, strong, and soft. So if you happen to be stranded in somewhere and you are craving some cilantro-infused cocktail to beat the heat (or cold!), now you have a great recipe for a reasonable cost.

To make this, you will need:

I forgot to add the jalapeño and my 'muddler' in the picture

Hardware:
Cocktail Shaker (Science kit optional)
Measuring glass/Jig and Pony
Ice
Wooden Spoon
An Old-Fashioned or Highball glass

Software:
Handful of cilantro
Jalapeño Slice
1/2 Lime
1/2 tsp Bartender's (superfine) Sugar
Club Soda
2 1/2 oz Rum




Now, I like to make my herbaceous mojito in a cocktail shaker where some would prefer to make it directly in the glass. Either way is fine really, but because I opt for a shorter glass instead of a Collins glass I don't want precious liquid volume by a mushed up lime.

Step 1: Muddle the Mixture
 Place a big handful of cilantro in the bottom of your cocktail shaker. Sprinkle a heavy pinch of bartender's sugar over the cilantro. Take a spoon with a wide handle and grind the cilantro against the bottom of the cup. Do this until it looks like wilted spinach and much of the juice from the herb is released. Then take your lime half, juice it into the cup and drop the squeezed lime into the cup.
On a side note, I don't really do this with a traditional mojito or when I make any drink with mint. I find that mint is a much more delicate herb and a little bruising releases those great oils without those woody and bitter flavors that come out when you grind mint into a pulp.

I'm Leverman!!

*Protip* I find the best way to juice a lime is to place it thusly between the arms of springloaded tongs and squeeze over the shaker cup.








Step 2: Put the chile in... herbaceous...
Take a slice out of a jalepeno and run a knife around the inside of the slice, cutting out the middle waxy area as well as the seeds. If you skip this step you will have a very spicy drink, which is just cruel. Sip...Holy s#!*  this is hot I need a drink! Sip...

If you are really good, the knife won't even move.








Add the jalepeno slice to the cup and muddle again, crushing the lime half and chile pepper into the already muddled herbs.

Fill the shaker 3/4 full with ice and add 2 1/2 ounces of silver rum and shake with vigor. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. If you muddled the cilantro correctly, the liquid should be bright green.

Take a sprig of cilantro in one and clap your hands together. This will bruise the cilantro and release its oils. Fill the rest of the glass with soda. Place the sprig in the glass as garnish and add a straw. Serve cold and fresh. 

Well there you have a nice, elegant drink without having to break the bank for some fancy liqour or some ridiculous piece of hardware you will never use for anything else.

This can be a great hit served at a party, but be warned, some people really hate this herb. As a matter of fact, most people either fall into the love-it or hate-it category. So make sure and take requests for it, this isn't the kind of drink that can be sprung on a group of friends when half of them say it tastes like spicy soap.

Props go to my gracious hand model.

 Enjoy your Herbaceous Mojito, and always remember to serve and enjoy responsibly and drink up the good things in life.