Mojito’s

When made good they are on the best cocktails in the world, but when made bad they taste terrible. As consumers should we just grin and bare it or put a mixologist in their place?

I have had my fair share in my time, the good, the bad and the damn right terrible. The problems seems to be that every bartender has their own take on it, yes it contains the same elements rum, lime, sugar, soda & ice…but it is fascinating that the sum of these parts can result in a drink that not only looks unappetising but tastes it too.

Like with any good chef, bartenders should understand the need for balance of flavour and that every customer that walks through the bar will have different pallets. Some will like it more to the sweet side, some to the tart; very much like when you order a steak…how irritating is it when you have been dreaming of a succulent, bloody fillet steak, and when it arrives it could be mistaken for a lump of charcoal.

Being a nation that has been brought up on politeness, some would just accept what has been put infront of them, winging to their dinner guests that its not what they wanted, so as to avoid the ‘uncomfortable’ conflict with the waiter. Whereas others would kick up a fuss and ask for another…done the way they requested.

The point to this observation is that if someone wanders into a bar and asks for a Mojito…then its really a game of Russian Roulette how it will taste. Yes, granted sometimes you get a fabulous one, but on many occasions I look at it thinking that it would be more at home on my Lamb Sunday Roast, more than in a glass…I once had the pleasure of getting a mojito with mint sauce and lime cordial in it – Genius!

A mojito is supposed to be light, refreshing and thirst quenching. How is that possible with 3 barspoons of brown sugar, 3 lime wedges, mint and an aged rum???

The top picture is my creation, or as I like to call him ‘Mr Mojito Man’ (and no this was not done in photoshop, he just appeared), the others are ones I have discovered whilst looking at recipes on the world wide web…which one would you prefer to drink? I know which one I would!

This is how I make my mojito!

If you get a bad mojito, take a picture and send it to info@wanttoimpress.com. I will not name and shame the bars, but want to show the world what is currently being sold!

Thanks

John Collingwood – www.wanttoimpress.com