I don't often say yes to bartending, but when two amazing humans are getting married, and they are my good friends—I say yes. For my friend Spring Sweet’s wedding (yep, that is her given name!) I hosted a tasting for her and her husband while we were renting a cottage on Lake Michigan. We sipped Sage Rub cocktails, Caipirinhas, and this Dirty Mojito in our list of options for the signature wedding drink. This mix of classic mojito flavors with the “dirty” addition of aromatic bitters didn’t win out as the wedding cocktail, but it did fascinate all of us with the unexpected goodness of this mystery ingredient. You must try it!
Dirty Mojito
Serves 4 (in 10-ounce rocks glasses, filled halfway with ice)
½ cup white sugar
½ cup water
½ cup lime juice
½ ounce mint (1 cup if using a measuring cup)
1 cup white rum
¾ cup club soda
20 drops aromatic bitters
In a glass measuring cup, combine white sugar and mint. Muddle (pound and combine) with the back of a wooden spoon for one minute.
Add ½ cup water and stir. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes until the mixture reaches a bubbly boil.
Remove from the microwave and strain mint from sugar syrup with a fine-mesh sieve into a serving pitcher.
Add the lime juice and then add the rum, stirring well to combine.
Immediately before serving, add ¾ cup club soda. Serve over ice, add five drops bitters to each rocks glass, and enjoy!
Purchase the Lark Cocktails book for dozens more great recipes! #livinglark
