Let’s play a game of Boozy Word Association. I say “summer,” and you say... “mojito,” of course. When we asked Mile & a Quarter bartender Andrew Iannotti to create a summer cocktail for us, the Cuban classic was where his imagination naturally landed, too. “It’s refreshing, but at the same time... it’s got some alcohol in it,” he says, winkingly. But rather than stick with the minty, lime-y, rum-based original, Andrew decided to get mildly heretical. Let’s walk through his iconoclasm one step at a time.
Step one: Iannotti adds strawberries for a version that’s less ordinary but not bonkers.
Step two: He uses a mix of vanilla and berry-based vodkas to complement that fruit profile better than rum could. And step three, he finishes with an eyebrow- raising Sprite topper: “It’s my secret,” he says. “I make all my mojitos with it.” As with all forms of heresy, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.
Mile & a Quarter
334 South Water Street. 331-1500. mileandaquarterri.com
Strawberry Mojito
serves 1
Andrew recommends building this drink in whatever glass you plan to serve it in, to get portions right without the fiddly-ness of measuring tools. Feel like having a pro mix yours instead? Order them from the Mile & a Quarter’s featured cocktail program until summer runs out.
• 3 lime wedges
• 2 fresh strawberries, whole
with greens removed
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce Stoli vanilla vodka
• 1 ounce Ciroc red berry vodka • Ice
• Soda water or seltzer (plain)
• Sprite
Equipment: pint glass, cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer
Place fruits and mint in a pint glass and top with an ounce of simple syrup. Muddle that mixture until the mint is very fragrant and the fruit is a bit mashed – but don’t be violent about it. Add a decent amount of ice but leave room for the liquor, which goes in next. Transfer to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously, then strain back into the pint glass. Top with soda water and a splash of Sprite, then serve.
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