Mojito De Mentha

Friends of ours made these for us as the prelude to a hot summer evening, and with one drink, this became our favorite new cocktail! Very fresh and light and a great way to use the mint from your garden. (From the cookbook, Viva la Vida by Rafael Palomino.)

• Ready In: 3 mins
• Yields: 1 tall glass

Ingredients

• 10  leaves of fresh mint
• 2  limes, juice of
• 1⁄3 cup water
• 2  tablespoons  superfine sugar, to taste
• 1  cup  crushed  ice
• 1 1⁄2 ounces light rum
•  Sprite or   7-Up soda

Directions

1. Tear mint leaves in half and put in cocktail shaker.
2. Using a pestle or the end of a wooden spoon, mash the leaves until bruised and crushed.
3. Add all the remaining ingredients except soda.
4. Cover the shaker and shake briskly.
5. Pour into a tall glass and top off with Sprite or 7-up.
6. Stir once, garnish with a mint sprig and serve.