The Old Cuban

The Pegu Club cocktail bar in New York City closed due to Covid, but the memories and recipes that came from within its walls endure.  Today’s clever cocktail comes to us from the club’s founder, Audrey Saunders.  It is simplistic in execution but the result is a beautiful, complex treat.   Some call it a fusion of the Mojito and French 75 but we find it to be distinctive unto itself.  

The Old Cuban

In a cocktail shaker add:

• 1½ Ounces Aged Rum (we used Plantation 5 Year Old)
• ¾ Ounce Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 Ounce Simple Syrup
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 6-8 Mint leaves

Muddle to gently bruise the mint leaves.  Add ice to the shaker and shake till very cold.  Double strain into a cocktail Coupe.  Top with 2 Ounces of Chilled Dry Sparkling Wine.  The original garnish was a sugar coated vanilla bean, however, a simple mint leaf will suffice.