The cocktail bar - Mojito

Okay, so it's winter, but I love a good drink.

And since a friend just finished all the paperwork for her divorce today, its time for a damned good drink.

Tomorrow night, I will be making Bel a few of these - we're mourning a part of her life that should have been happy, but at the same time, celebrating the fact that she is less than 2 months from finally being free of her wife bashing ex husband.

So, here's to the future.

10 fresh mint leaves

1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges

2 tablespoons caster sugar

1 cup ice cubes

45ml white rum

125ml soda water

1.

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture.

2.

Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice and fill the glass with soda water. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge If you don't have a muddler, feel free to use the end of a rolling pin or the handle of a wooden spoon. And now for the non alcoholic version... 8-10 large mint leaves 1/2 c. sugar (you can add more if necessary, especially if kids are involved) 3/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 7 small, juicy limes) 1 24-oz. bottle of sparkling water (like Perrier or soda water) Finely chop the mint leaves. Place the chopped mint leaves in a bowl or non-reactive pitcher and press them with a pestle or the back of a spoon to release the oils. Add the sugar and press the mint leaves and sugar together with the back of a spoon. Add the lime juice and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy. If you haven't been mixing the mint and sugar in a pitcher, transfer to a glass or plastic pitcher. Right before serving, add the sparkling water and serve immediately over ice. Garnish with lime slices and mint leaves.