The Mighty Mojito: A History of a Cuban Favorite

Widely recognized by its sweet, refreshing fragrance and flavor, the Mojito is a traditional Caribbean cocktail often considered to be the Cuban version of a mint julep. The drink boasts a cool, refreshing flavor combining the sweet taste of lime and freshness of mint sprigs with just the right amount of rum and sets drinkers minds on a tropical cruise even if they never stray farther than their bar stool. While the distinct, sugary flavor of the Mojito is unmistakable, much mystery surrounds the origins of the beverage.

According to some historians, the Mojito is a relatively young cocktail, dating back to the late 1800s, where it was said to have been crafted by Cuban slaves. Those favoring this tale suggest that working in Cuba's vast sugar cane fields inspired the Mojito's introduction. As sugar cane juice can be distilled into rum, it seems logical that Cuban slaves could have been the original inventors of the Mojito.

However, this explanation is not universally accepted - historians argue that those following this opinion are mistaking the origins of the Mojito with that of the Daquiri. This is a logical conclusion, as the Daquiri is also a sugary, rum-based cocktail. Further evidence lending credibility to this theory is the tale of English pirate Richard Drake.

Historians giving credit to Drake trace the Mojito's history to the 1500s, when he sailed with Sir Francis Drake, known more for stirring chaos than cocktails. According to legend, Richard created the first Mojito by mixing aguardiente, an unrefined rum, with mint, sugar, and lime - the staple ingredients of modern Mojitos.

Inspired by Sir Francis, Richard elected to dub this new drink "El Draque," meaning "the dragon," in reference to Francis' rowdiness. Francis made a career of plundering the Caribbean and South America, often basing his operations out of Cuba, thus explaining that country's embrace of the beverage. Coincidentally, it is also popular in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela - all of which Sir Francis was known to frequent.