National Mojito Day

The story

The origin of mojito, a Cuban classic, dates back to 1586. Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake, after invading Cartagena de Indias, searched for a cure for scurvy and dysentery (a disease caused by a serious vitamin C deficiency). He found his remedy in Cuba, a mix of aguardiente (a distilled liquor), mint, and sugarcane. His crew liked the mixture, and reported fewer symptoms.

But some people claim the mojito was born at La Bodeguita del Medio, a Cuban bar that still insists it was the drink’s birthplace. By 1931, Havana’s Sloppy Joe’s Bar listed two mojitos, one with gin, one with rum, on its menu. The recipe later appeared in El Floridita Cocktail Book in 1939, cementing the mojito’s place in cocktail history.

The drink’s popularity increased in the early 20th century, thanks in part to Ernest Hemingway, who was rumored to be a fan. With its refreshing taste, mojito became synonymous with summer. A 2016 survey found it to be the most popular cocktail in France and Britain.