Winter Mojito

Winter Mojito

I need a drink. Yes, it has been awhile since I’ve featured a cocktail in this bloggie thingamabob and you must know it isn’t because I’ve stopped drinking! Oh no. Our summer cocktail season was a real bust around here wasn’t it?In fact, it barely got off the ground after we kicked it off with our Mojito feature. The main reason for this was that it rarely ever got warm enough around here to crave a refreshing libation. A true shame given I had several such treats lined up for you, But, alas, our weather would just not cooperate.

But now the holiday season is in high gear (I spent all day at the mall today and plan to head back in just a few minutes) and we just got off a short round of record cold spells. So if cold weather doesn’t inspire an appropriate drinkiepoo then surely our increased holiday related anxiety does? I just noticed that its been pretty much French Dorie this and French Dorie that around here. (Cocktail nuts doesn’t really feel much like French food does it? Whats up with that?) It only seems proper and polite of me to offer you a thematic winter cocktail while we ponder such things. And as far as looks go, they don’t come any more Christmas-y than this one! There is no better antidote to francophilia than a cocktail because it is one of the few things the French just don’t do all that well. (Ever order a martini in Paris? Blech.)

Even given its near cocktail perfection in its pure form, the mojito is still fertile ground for adapting and tinkering. I covered this classic back in June and have been mad for them ever since. The herb guy at the farmer’s market here is always quite generous with mint as are the Persian markets that I find myself in frequently and I hate to let it go to waste. So, doing all I can to avoid waste (and thereby contribute to a greener planet) I turned to mojitos . The things I sacrifice for the sake ecology! One night, saddened by the discovery of an empty rum bottle and yet still desiring to do my part for a green earth, the Watermelon Mojarita was born and we moved the party to Tequila Mexico.

Around the ‘net I’ve seen several attempts at winterizing this drink but the best by far goes to Danny Meyer’s version served every season at his Gramercy Tavern in NYC. You can expect any cocktail you get at any one of his restaurants to be near perfection and this one truly is as well. Before Thanksgiving I picked up an extra bag of fresh cranberries just so I could make his “druken cranberries” garnish for this winter treat. The cranberries will stay kept in a Ball jar in the fridge for a couple weeks and even though they are rum based you can pop them into just about any festive holiday cocktail garnish during the season.

Winter Mojito

 

Winter Mojito

Winter Mojito

This is what you will need:

    For Winter Mojito:
  • 1 teaspoons drunken cranberries(see below for instructions and ingredients on drunken cranberries)
  • 2 lime wedges
  • 8 sprigs mint
  • 2.5 oz dark rum
  • Soda
  • For Drunken Cranberries:
  • Simple Syrup (1 cup sugar/1 cup water)
  • 1.5 cups 2 cinnamon sticks
  • zest from one orange
  • 2 cups cranberries
  • 1 1/2 cups rum, pref white

This is how you make it:

    For Winter Mojito:
  1. Fill rocks glass.
  2. Muddle 1 teaspoon cranberries, 2 teaspoons liquid, lime wedges and mint in cocktail shaker.
  3. Add rum and crushed ice.
  4. Shake, strain into glass.
  5. Garnish with 1 teasp cranberries and mint.
  6. For Drunken Cranberries:
  7. In saucepan simmer syrup, cinnamon and orange zest.
  8. Add cranberries and cook 1 minute until skins split.
  9. Off heat, cool.
  10. Strain liquid into jar.
  11. Add cranberries, removing cinnamon and orange.
  12. Add rum.
  13. Make sure covered.
  14. Chill for up to 3 weeks
https://sisboomblog.com/winter-mojito/

Drunken Cranberries

Bomb+End+of+Post4

About Trevor Kensey

I don't know what “Sis. Boom. [blog!]" means either. But, if a post makes even a small 'boom' in your day, I would be happy. Please don't call me a "foodie", or even a food blogger. I prefer "food raconteur" thank you very much.
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  1. That sounds delicious! It’s so warm here in Vancouver right now, I think a regular Mojito might be more appropriate…

  2. Yum! Other than moscato d’Asti, rum is my second favorite spirit. Is it bad that I have an order of preference in spirits?

  3. I can imagine drinking myself silly after visiting a so cal shopping mall. Especially at this time of year. But maybe that’s the purpose. And a good one it is. Cranberries, orange, muddling – we all come together under one intoxicating umbrella. Mojitos for everyone [on me]! Your berries look especially sugary sweet.

  4. Love this idea! I have exactly enough time to make the drunken cranberries before new years eve!

  5. Yum Yum Yum! You could also go with @ French 75…champagne, gin, lemon juice & sugar…amazing when you make it w/ Hendrick’s & Veuve.

  6. Trevor this looks great. I think I’ll share it with my girl up at Meadowood. What a nice winter drink. Summer up here was a bust too. Can’t wait for Sisbooze this summer!!!Yeah B:)

  7. I love those drunken cranberries! 🙂 I have some berries left over from Thanksgiving and now I know just what to do with them. Your winter mojito looks great!

  8. I want one of those. Right, Now. 🙂 It looks sooo good!

  9. Yes Please!!

  10. Wish I had a sip of this.

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