Sparkling · Celebration · Spring

Old Cuban

Mint and lime shaken with aged rum and Angostura, then Champagne poured over. A Mojito in evening dress.

Base: Rum
Glass: Coupe glass
Method: Shake
Strength: 13% ABV

Ingredients

0.75 pcMint Leaves
45 mlAged Rum
22.5 mlFresh Lime Juice1 swap
Fresh lemon juicemedium
Slightly less floral, more tart
30 mlSimple Syrup1 swap
Sugar syrup or agavehigh
Little change
2 dashAngostura Bitters
60 mlBrut Champagne1 swap
Any dry sparkling winehigh
Little change

How to make

Technique

Shake · 10–15s

Shaking chills the drink fast while adding dilution and a light texture.

Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker except the wine, shake well with ice, strain into chilled elegant cocktail glass.
Top up with the sparkling wine.

Serve

Glass

Coupe glassAlso fine: Martini glass, Nick & Nora glass

Garnish

Garnish with mint springs.Stand the sprigs next to the straw so you meet them on every sip.

Taste & nutrition

13%ABV

175kcal

2.02Drinks

StrengthMedium

Sweet to dryDry

Estimated from ingredient amounts and assumed ABVs — not a lab measurement.

Good to know

Use freshly squeezed juice — bottled tastes flat.
Press the mint gently; shredding it turns the drink bitter.

History

Year2004

PlaceNew York, USA

Created byAudrey Saunders

Audrey Saunders created the Old Cuban in 2004 in New York, a sophisticated bridge between a Mojito and a Champagne cocktail. Aged rum, lime, mint and bitters are shaken, then topped with sparkling wine. Elegant and effervescent, it dresses up humble Mojito ingredients. It is one of the standout modern classics of the craft era.

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