Room 670 - Mint Condition

Drinks with the use of the flavor or the leaf

When I tended bar at Lakeside Golf Club, I had bought a few different sized infusion spigot jars to create some fun Summer concoctions for the member’s volleyball season. One that I had tried for the first time was infusing together a couple bottles of Bacardi white rum in a jar and throw in a few batches of fresh clean mint/leaves. I then put the jar in a cooler to infuse for a few days, because leaves have a tendency to turn too fast and become mush, infusing at room temperature. Initially this finished infusion (extracting all leaf remains out of the jar) is great for Mojitos, but I was also thirsty for a drink at that time, and by accident, created what is now known as the Mint R&C. In a tumbler glass filled with ice, pour in 1½ oz of mint-infused Bacardi rum, top with Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola. Garnishing with a slice or squeeze of lime, it can be also called a Minted Cuba Libre. Either way, it’s a refreshing, yet simple drink for the Summer.

For those with a taste of less sweet and more sparkle, the
Havana Club Rickey may be in order for the early day sun. Squeeze the juice of a half lime in a bucket glass and drop the hull in as well, creating a bottom garnish. Add a dash of simple syrup and then fill the glass with cracked ice. Pour in 1½ oz Havana Club Rum and top with Schweppes club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wheel.

A cream drink that is a bit on the simple side as well, but nice
to have in the early cool evening. The Peppermint Crisp goes in a collins glass with cubed or cracked ice and starts off with 1oz Marie Brizard whire creme de menthe, then add 1oz Kahlua and fill with ice cold milk. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

This drink I prepared on my debut DVD Summer Quenchers. Having some crushed ice nearby to fill a collins or goblet glass, pour in 2oz Southern Comfort, ½ oz Hiram Walker curacao and one squeezed slice of lemon. Stir chill all and garnish with slices of orange and peach, a maraschino cherry and a mint sprig. There you have it, the Southern Cobbler.

Get out your mason drinking jars for this one, handle or no handle. Fill with cubed or cracked ice, and start with 2oz of Bols white creme de menthe. What this does being cold instead of room temperature is create more of a coating over and down the ice. Then just fill with homemade iced tea. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a mint sprig. Minted Tea. Very nice!

Made in the same way as the standard version, the Spiced Mojito starts off by muddling a good pinch of mint leaves/sprigs in the bottom of a tall glass with ¾ oz simple syrup. Squeeze two halves of one lime in the glass, leaving one hull in the bottom sitting on the muddled leaves. Pour in 1½ - 2oz of Captain Morgan or Voodoo spiced rum. Fill the glass with cubed or cracked ice, then top with Canada Dry club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and a slice of lime.

Raise your blades, you don’t want to cut the grass too short. Mowing in the Summertime is a thirsty experience and the Lawn Boy knows just what to prepare to quench it. Get the blender out for this one. Throw some ice in the blender cup and add 2–3 oz of Pearl vodka, a handful of fresh cut mint, 1 small can of Limeaid and a pinch of sugar to taste. Blend to desired consistency, and garnish with a slice of lime.

A really cool nightcap of a cocktail, the Mocha Mint is a stir and strain drink getting ¾ oz each of the following: coffee brandy, Arrow white creme de menthe, Gaetano white creme de cacao. Strain in a chilled cocktail glass. No garnish necessary.

Dreaming underneath a crescent or a full, wait Just A Moonmint. Take this with you. Blend with ice 8oz of cold milk, 1oz of chocolate syrup and ¼ oz of DaVinci mint syrup. Thick it up and pour in a tall glass. Garnish with a mint sprig and how about a chocolate cookie?

Putting in a favorite movie and hopping into bed to snuggle up and relax, why not bring with you a Pillow Mint for you and your loved one. In old fashioned glasses, fill both with cubed or cracked ice. Pour over ice in each: 2oz of Michael Collins Irish whiskey, ½ oz Tia Maria coffee liqueur and a dash of mint infused schnapps. Stir and enjoy the night.

UPDATE - My new AudioBook on disc (CD) is now available. You can get Spirits and their Popular Drinks on-line at CDBaby.com in about a week or so. Click-on search and type in my name in the Artist name. My 3-Disc Set is only available through me at the moment via my email address. kb