Well, while writing posts about Cuba I get the impression that I’ve drank a lot of cocktails there.. and it’s not so far from the truth according to my pictures.. Ooops.. But while talking about Cuba, we cannot miss to mention its delicious cocktails, right?
Actually, I am not so into alcohol in general, but when I am drinking it, I usually drink either cocktails or some other sweet drinks like Baileys or Martini.
When I am planning to go to some exotic destination on vacation, I always imagine myself in advance lying on the white sandy beach on a beautiful sunny day, with a fabulous view, of course. The palm trees around me and calming view of turquoise water in front of me. All that while sipping sweet tasty cocktail. And I am already in paradise in my mind.
So, I’ve decided to make a list of the top 5 cocktail drinks I tried while was there. There are many more, but couldn’t try them all. Lol. I had to leave something for my next visit, because I would definitely love to go back.
Many of these drinks now has an international recognition, especially those made on the basis of pure Cuban rum. I also found a recipe for each of them in case you want to try making them at home.
So, let’s start..
1.Mojito
This is the cocktail I really love and drink more often, but this one was something special. Maybe it was because of the atmosphere in La Bodeguita del Medio and the fact that it’s apparently birthplace of Mojito cocktail. Whatever the reason was, that was the best Mojito I ever had, and I totally recommend this place in Havana for trying it.
The other interesting fact is that this was the favorite drink of the famous writer Ernest Hemingway.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
- 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
- 1/2 cup club soda
Directions:
Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy 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. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.
2.Daiquiri
This was the first time I’ve ever tried this cocktail, and from the very first moment I fell in love with it. After one sip I announced that I found my new favorite drink. Daiquiri is the traditional drink of the Floridita bar in Havana. There are several variations of this cocktail such as Daiquiri with strawberries or bananas, but this basic one is definitely my favorite.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 fluid ounces light rum
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 2 cups cracked ice
Directions:
Pour the rum, lime juice, sugar and ice into the container of a blender. Blend for 10 seconds, or until ice is fine. Pour into two daiquiri glasses.
3.Piña colada
If I ever go back to Cuba, visiting Cayo Largo is a must. I will definitely go back to this island, to this beach, to this beach bar just to have one more of this perfectly creamy and yummy cocktail served in coconut. Or two.. 😉 If you are an ice cream lover like myself, you will adore it. And if you are not an ice cream lover you will adore it, too. This one was sooo delicious.
We ordered another Piña colada when we were in Cayo Blanco, and that one was served in pineapple. That one was nice and exotic, but not so creamy and delicious as the previous one.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 6 fluid ounces pineapple juice
- 2 fluid ounces rum
- 1 fluid ounce sweetened coconut cream
- 1 fluid ounce heavy cream
- 1 pineapple wedge
Directions:
In a blender, combine ice, pineapple juice, rum, coconut cream and heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass and garnish with pineapple wedge.
4.Cuba Libre
Well, I don’t have a photo for this cocktail, probably because that one looked like a regular glass of Coke, but here is a picture of the main ingredients of Cuba Libre cocktail: worldwide known Havana Club rum and Tukola – Cuban version of Coca-Cola.
The interesting fact is that there are just two countries in the world where Coca-Cola cannot be bought or sold – at least, not officially. They are Cuba and North Korea. However, you can actually find it there, but Coca-Cola says if any drinks are being sold in either North Korea or Cuba, they are being smuggled in on the black market, not via official channels.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 fluid ounces rum
- 1/2 fluid ounce lime juice
- 3/4 cup ice
- 2 fluid ounces cola-flavored carbonated beverage
Directions:
Combine rum and lime juice in a highball glass. Top with ice and fill with cola.
5.Canchánchara
Canchánchara is a cocktail made of fresh lime juice, rum, ice and honey and is originally from Trinidad. This cocktail tastes like a lemonade with honey, but was refreshing after all day walking.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 fluid ounces rum
- 1 fluid ounce lime juice
- 1 fluid ounces honey syrup
- 3/4 cup ice
- soda water
Directions:
Stir the honey syrup and the rum in the glass. Add a lime juice and soda water into a glass with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
This ones and many other cocktail recipes you can find here.
That’s all my fabulous readers. Now, it’s up to you to choose one recipe and add some exotic taste to your Sunday. Or any other day. Enjoy!
Let me know which one is your favorite.
Strava!
I like your list of drinks
Sve sam ih probala. 🙂 Mojito i dalje najdrazi.
Que paraiso