Ingredients: Served: Straight up: chilled, without ice. Drinkware: Cocktail glass. Method: Pour all ingredients except the wine into cocktail shaker, shake well with ice, strain into chilled elegant cocktail glass. Top up with the sparkling wine and garnish with mint sprigs. 4.5 cl aged rum, 2.25 cl fresh lime juice, 3 cl simple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 6 to 8 mint leaves, 6 cl champagne brut or Prosecco

**Old-Cuban - Cocktail** Discover the refined elegance of the **Old Cuban Cocktail**, a modern classic that feels like a timeless legend! This sophisticated **Rum** drink combines the depth of aged **Rum** with bright fresh **lime juice** for vibrant **Citrus**, **Sweetened** simple syrup, aromatic **Angostura bitters**, fragrant fresh **mint leaves**, and a celebratory top of crisp **Sparkling** wine (Champagne or Prosecco). It's a complex, refreshing, and utterly delicious **Cocktail** that's **Shaken** (mostly!), strained, and **Served Up** in a chilled elegant **Cocktail glass**. **Ingredients:** * 4.5 cl aged rum * 2.25 cl fresh lime juice * 3 cl simple syrup * 2 dashes Angostura bitters * 6 to 8 mint leaves * 6 cl champagne brut or Prosecco **Preparation:** 1. Chill your elegant **Cocktail glass** thoroughly. 2. In a **cocktail shaker**, gently muddle the **mint leaves** to release their aroma. 3. Add the aged **rum**, fresh **lime juice**, simple syrup, and **Angostura bitters** to the shaker. 4. Fill the shaker with ice and **shake well** until thoroughly chilled. 5. **Strain** the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into your chilled **Cocktail glass**. 6. Carefully **top up** the glass with cold **champagne brut or Prosecco**. 7. **Garnish** with fresh mint sprigs. 8. Serve **Straight up**, without ice. **Notes and Tips:** * Using an *aged* **Rum** is key to this drink's complexity; it adds depth and character that white rum wouldn't provide. * Fresh **lime juice** is crucial for the bright, **Citrus** acidity that balances the **Sweetened** elements. * Gently muddle the mint – just press lightly to release the oils, don't mash it into tiny pieces, which can make the drink bitter. * Ensure your sparkling wine is very cold before topping the drink. Using a Brut (dry) Champagne or Prosecco helps keep the drink from being too sweet. * A generous sprig of fresh mint makes a perfect garnish, adding aroma and visual appeal. Clap the mint sprig between your hands before garnishing to awaken the scent. **History or Origin:** The **Old Cuban Cocktail** is a true modern classic, created by Audrey Saunders at her Pegu Club in New York City in 2004. It's a masterful blend that takes inspiration from both a classic Daiquiri (rum, lime, sugar) and a French 75 (spirit, citrus, sugar, sparkling wine). Despite its recent origin, its sophisticated flavor profile and elegant presentation have earned it a place alongside more historic **Cocktails**. **Visual Description:** Served **Straight up** in a chilled elegant **Cocktail glass**, the **Old Cuban** has a lovely pale golden hue from the aged **Rum** and syrup, topped with the effervescence of the **Sparkling** wine. The fresh mint sprig garnish stands tall, adding a vibrant green contrast and aromatic promise. **Conclusion:** For a sophisticated and refreshing **Rum Cocktail** that offers complex layers of flavor, the **Old Cuban** is simply divine. Its blend of aged **Rum**, **Citrus**, **Sweetened** syrup, **Bitters**, **Mint**, and bubbly **Sparkling** wine, **Shaken** and **Served Up**, is perfect for a special evening or any time you want to enjoy a truly great **Cocktail**.