opinionated alchemist

Yes, this is not the first time I post the best mojito. My first article took all details apart and made some suggestions. However now, I really feel, that I am on the right way to the truly best mojito: We can all agree upon, that better quality and better matching ingredients makes a better mojito. The first secret is: I found the perfect Mojito rum. No joke. PERFECT. It is Diplomatico Planas. A Venezuelan rum, which is in the style of Cuban (and Dominican) rums - though better. It is longer aged, has a fuller bodied aroma, without being too dominating or funky (like a Jamaican rum. But the most important part is, that Planas is stronger than its competitors. Healthy 47%. There is no rum, which is coming close to it. Not Bacardi (the replicas are not bad... still no comparison). No Havana Club. The second choice would be a blend from a high-roof rum (white) and a reasonable good light rum (Matusalem Platino), and maybe a small fraction of aged rum. But even this is not close. Second...

I am often really annoyed when I see people, making cocktails (blogging about cocktails, etc.). Look, I love cocktail culture - I believe, that it is worth to be preserved. And I believe, that there has to be respect - because otherwise there won’t be anything to be preserved. The Mojito is one drink, which gets molested all the time. And people don’t get it: there are drinks, which were consumed in a civilized environment (bars) - by more or less civilized people (at least they are civilized in the setting). And there are peasant drinks. A peasant drink can be great - I don’t judge, which drink is better - but latter is far more adaptable to changes. Comparing the Mojito versus the Caipirinha is pretty obvious: the Mojito is a bar drink. Very soon after its creation, it has been consumed in Cuba’s most recognized bars - probably by the most famous people at its time. Against that, the Caipirinha has been a drink of farmers and workers in Brazil. The difference is a pretty big...