Winter Mojitos

In the dead of winter, especially this one, it’s nice to sit in a warm room on a sunny day, look out the window, and pretend it’s June. Maybe you can even hear the waves on the imaginary beach nearby. To keep things both simple and interesting, here’s a cocktail with roots in the 1580s plus a twist. Thought to originally be a medicinal mixture of sugar cane moonshine and local herbs, the Mojito is now the cocktail of Cuba and many summers by the pool. In the 16th century, this drink (really the citrus) was the cure for scurvy lauded by ship bound and cabin fevered pirates and sailors. Even though scurvy isn’t the threat it once was, homebound quarantiners can at least pretend they are pirates or 16th century pre-colonial Taíno peoples needing a little break from a hard day’s work. For extra enjoyment, we’ve added a grapefruit as an inseason twist and some recommended listening. If you’re looking for a more authentic, modern experience, Cuban bartenders are rumored to substitute lemon for lime.