Hans’ Famous Gin & Appletiser Mojito

If  you’re a firm believer that every person should have a signature cocktail, this one is for you. From a Christmas get-together to a casual barbecue; from a the first cocktail on a Friday afternoon to what is now my fathers’ firm-favourite contribution to hunting trips with the boys.

Not convinced yet? Well, it gets even better: No special tools required, impossible to ruin, can be made in big batches and as flexible as you are. Dress it up or down, this is a drink to keep in your arsenal of secret soiree weapons.

Serves 2

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Lime cut into 8 pieces
• 1 Handful mint leaves
• 100-150 ml of your favourite Gin (Hans uses a herbal infused boutique gin)
• 500 ml sparkling apple juice
• ½ cup Castor sugar or fine white sugar
• 1 cup Crushed ice

Method

Sugared rim

• Pour the sugar into a small plate or saucer, and shake lightly to evenly distribute the sugar. Rub the juice side of a lime wedge on the rim of the glass, making sure you coat the entire edge, then dip the rim in the sugar. Press down lightly, lift the glass and set aside to dry.

Rub the rim with a lime wedge

Coat the lime rubbed rim in fine white sugar

Lime and sugar cocktail rims

Crushing the Ice

• If you don’t have an ice crusher, put your ice in a kitchen cloth, and crush it with rolling pin.
• Alternatively, if you have serious anger issues you need to resolve, consider grabbing the cloth by the ends, containing the ice in the middle, and bash it against the floor until the desired consistency is achieved. (This tends to be the method of choice around these parts…)

Crushed ice

The gin mojito, ready to be topped with sparkling apple juice

Mixing a single cocktail

• In a glass or small mixing bowl, add half the mint leaves, half the lime pieces and a ¼ cup fine sugar. Using a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon if you don’t have a muddler) crush the three ingredients together until a syrup is formed.
• Add ½ of the gin and half the ice. Mix together.
• Transfer the mix into the serving glass, and top with 250 ml sparkling apple juice.
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves, and serve with a straw or cocktail mixer.

Add the mint

Mint and sugar

Mint, sugar and limes

Mint sugar and limes

Muddle the mint, lime and sugar

The syrup that forms as the ingredients are muddled

For larger batches, follow the same process and serve in individual glasses or in pitchers or carafes  at informal events.

Here’s to you!