Old Cuban

In the modern history of New York City bars and cocktails, Audrey Saunders is a legend. Best known for the Pegu Club in Soho (which closed abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Audrey has mentored a generation of bartenders and is at least partially responsible for the cocktail renaissance we've seen in recent years. 20 years.

The Old Cuban is just one of Audrey's original drinks that has been added to the lexicon of modern bar drink staples. Like many of their cocktails, it's inspired by a classic, the mojito, with a few key tweaks that allow it to stand on its own. Instead of the traditional white rum in the mojito, dark rum is requested here. Aromatic bitters are added and the sparkling water is replaced with champagne.

This cocktail translates better into non-alcoholic form than anything we've tried. The resulting drink is bright, minty and refreshing like a mojito, but has the dark intensity of rum and the flavor of sparkling wine.

ingredients:

6 mint leaves
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce lemon juice
2 ounces non-alcoholic dark rum
4 drops All The Bitter Aromatic Bitters
2 ounces non-alcoholic sparkling wine

preparation:

In the bottom of a shaker, gently mix the mint leaves along with the syrup and lemon juice.

Add the rum, bitters and ice and shake until very cold. Strain into a coupe glass and top with non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.