15 mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce Mint Simple Syrup (recipe below)
Ice
2 1/2 ounces light rum
1 ounce chilled club soda
Sliced limes
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and Mint Syrup. Add ice and the rum, shake well and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with the club soda and garnish with the mint sprig and a slice of lime.
Minted Simple Syrup
1 1/2 cups packed fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
In a saucepan bring sugar, water and mint to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer syrup, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Pour syrup through a fine sieve, pressing hard on solids, and cool. Syrup keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.
- Recipe courtesy of James Moore