Each year on July 11th, people across America join together to mark National Mojito Day.
Known to be a favorite drink of author, Ernest Hemingway, the Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball consisting of white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling water, and mint.
With a low alcohol content, this refreshing cocktail has found popularity in the summertime for its refreshing combination of sweetness, citrus and mint flavors.
- Although born in Cuba, the exact origin of the Mojito is under debate with roots as early as 1586. Making it one of the oldest mixed drinks still consumed today.
- Sir Francis Drake was hailed across England as a hero, and was knighted by Elizabeth I after helping defeat the Spanish Armada. But to the Spanish, he was a ruthless pirate known as El Draque. It is said that a mojito-like drink was invented after Drake found himself near the city of Havana. Called El Draque, the cocktail had aguardiente (early rum), sugar, lime and mint. Originally, the drink was used for medicinal purposes, to help treat scurvy and dysentery. When the aguadiente was replaced with rum, the mojito was born.
- Mojo means a magic charm or talisman. It likely has roots in an African language. Some believe that the name was introduced by the slaves in Cuba who worked on sugar cane farms. This theory is often dismissed by historians who think this is more likely the origin of the word daiquiri.
- According to Google Trends, Poland Googles the term “mojito” more than any other country in the world.
- The mojito had a resurgence this millennium when in 2002 it played a prominent role in a scene in the James Bond film Die Another Day. In the scene James Bond uses the mojito to seduce Jinx (played by the beautiful Halle Berry.)
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