Old Cuban Cocktail
- 1 1/2 oz Aged Rum (Bacardi 8 Year or equivalent)
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3/8 oz Rich Gum Syrup
- 8 Spearmint Leaves
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 2 oz Champagne (good domestic or French non-vintage)
Chill Champagne saucer. Muddle lime juice, syrup, and mint gently in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add rum, bitters and ice cubes. Shake and strain into Champagne saucer. Top with Champagne.
| Prep Time | 2 minutes |
| Servings | 1 |
| Category | Cocktail |
| Tags | 1990-present (Renaissance), Aperitif, Cuban, Elegant, Tropical |
| Proof | 29 |
| Strength | 1.4 standard drinks |
| Glass | Champagne Saucer |
| Temp | Cold |
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You can think of this drink as a dressed up or fancy Mojito. It really is a fantastic drink. Sipping it, I imagine I'm at an old sugar plantation house on St. Kitt's looking out at a beautifully manicured lawn (or perhaps on a French island due to the Champagne).
Watch the amount of syrup that you use. I found 3/8 oz balanced well with brut Champagne. If you use a sweeter Champagne, you may want to reduce the syrup. If you don't have any mint handy you can use mint syrup as the sweetener (in a pinch).
The original recipe specifies Barcard 8 Year rum. I have found a Cuban profile rum works well here...if you have an aged Havana Club, go for it. Also 12 or 15 year Ron Matusalem works well.
An Old Cuban Cocktail has a color similar to Paulaner Hefe-Weizen beer--an orange hue. Little bits of mint will be floating in it, too. If you don't have a Champagne saucer, a tulip or small wine glass will work. This drink was invented by Audrey Saunders, a student of Dale DeGroff. Audrey opened the Pegu Club in New York City in 2005.
Rating (Liquor & Drink)
With Ron Matusalem 15 Year rum and Cremant sparkling wine. 8/4/2008