Old Cuban
Old Cuban is a citrus, herbal and sparkling cocktail made with Rum, with high flavor complexity.
Ingredients
- 45 ml gold rum (aged, e.g. Bacardi 8)
- 22 ml fresh lime juice
- 30 ml simple syrup
- 6 mint leaves
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters (Angostura)
- 60 ml Champagne or brut sparkling wine, chilled
- Ice
- Mint sprig
Method
- In a shaker, lightly muddle the mint with the lime juice and simple syrup.
- Add the gold rum and Angostura, fill with ice, and shake well.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe — no mint bits in the glass.
- Top with the brut sparkling wine.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
FAQ
What is in a Old Cuban?
A Old Cuban is made with 45 ml gold rum (aged, e.g. Bacardi 8), 22 ml fresh lime juice, 30 ml simple syrup, 6 mint leaves, 2 dashes aromatic bitters (Angostura), 60 ml Champagne or brut sparkling wine, chilled, Ice and Mint sprig.
When should you serve a Old Cuban?
A Old Cuban fits a party, an aperitif and a classic.
What is the bartender tip for a Old Cuban?
Audrey Saunders (Beacon / Pegu Club, 2001) wanted a party Mojito: gold rum in place of white, Angostura in place of soda, sparkling wine in a coupe. The 30 ml of syrup balances the 22 ml of lime; if your syrup is 2:1, drop it a little. Mint gets a light muddle — crushing it releases chlorophyll. Double strain keeps the glass clean. Dry brut; sweet prosecco wants less syrup. It's not the catalog's Mojito (white rum + soda in a highball), the Air Mail (honey, no mint or bitters), the French 75 (gin and lemon), or the Champagne Cocktail (no distilled spirit).