How to make the perfect mojito

Cuba is the home of the mojito, so naturally I made sure to sample as many as possible while there.

Keen to recreate this refreshing cocktail at home, I paid attention to how they were made and even had a mojito-making lesson from a barman in Havana. 

Many Cuban bars use a combination of sugar syrup and soda water, but a few used lemonade instead.

When I was attempting to perfect the recipe at home, I found that sprite or lemonade worked just as well – and was super convenient, too.

Here’s my tried and tested cheat’s mojito recipe…

Ingredients

White rum

Sprite or lemonade

Handful of mint

Juice of half a lime

1tsp caster sugar

Handful of ice cubes

Method

Tear five or six mint leaves into a mortar, add the lime juice and the sugar, then use a pestle to grind the ingredients together until the mint breaks down.

Pour into a glass, add a spring of mint, a good glug of rum and the same amount of lemonade. Give it all a good stir, then add the ice. Serve and enjoy.