Try a new twist on the traditional Mojito

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing and mojito is in your hand.” – Bar Refaeli
Labor Day in America signals the end of summer. School starts, public pools close and extended families gather for barbeques. Pool parties and barbeques are great time to sip on tall, refreshing cocktails. The Mojito is a classic Cuban drink that has seen a resurgence in popularity. Mojitos are generally made with white rum. In today’s post, we’ll try an updated variation using Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry (www.tiopepe.co.uk).

Sherry is a fortified wine that is made from white grapes in the Jerez region of Spain. The Palomino Fino Sherry from Tio Pepe is a dry light variation with hints of almond, honey and apple. During a recent tasting customers who sampled the sherry found that the almond taste came through boldly. Fino is the driest and lightest of the types of sherry. Fino is aged in barrels under a cap of yeast to prevent contact with air. The alcohol content in sherry is higher than the average wine at 15% so adding this to your Mojito mixture will provide extra punch to your cocktail.
The traditional Mojito is made with rum, simple syrup, mint leaves, lime juice and sparking soda. For the tasting I used the Tio Pepe Sherry in place of the rum. Using sherry in the Mojito cocktail gave a slightly smokey and nutty flavor to balance the tartness of the lime. The muddled mint flavors came through very nicely.
PositiveVines‘ HelpfulTip: Experiment with muddling your mint leaves. A muddler can be purchased at any beverage store. Muddlers look like mini baseball bats. Some mixologists recommend just slightly pressing on the mint to release the flavor and avoid getting any of the bitterness of the herb. Others prefer the full flavor of the mint. 
Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry is readily available in most wine stores. It retails at $16.99 per bottle and I’ve seen it during summer months on sale for $12.99. Pick up a bottle this week and start working on your Mojito recipe. Impress the adults at your Labor Day barbeque with this versatile island drink from Havana.

Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!

Drink Responsibly!

@TioPepeFine #WBC17