Old Cuban
Aged rum, lime, mint and bitters, shaken and topped with prosecco. A Mojito that dressed up.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.5 UK units
How to make an Old Cuban
- Combine in a shaker. Add the rum, lime juice, syrup, mint and bitters to a shaker. Fill it with ice.
- Shake hard. Shake for 12 seconds, until the tin is cold and the mint has broken into the liquid.
- Double-strain. Strain through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine strainer into a chilled coupe, so the glass is clear of mint flecks.
- Top with prosecco. Pour the prosecco gently over the top. It should rise in a thin layer of foam.
- Garnish. Float a single mint leaf on the surface.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A flute or small wine glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Mint leafOr: A lime twist.
What you need to make an Old Cuban
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bottles we'd use
- Aged rumPlantation 5 Year or Diplomático Reserva, both smooth and not too sweet.Find it on Amazon
- ProseccoA brut or extra dry bottle is best.Find it on Amazon
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Old Cuban variations and swaps
For a drier drink, use 15 ml of sugar syrup instead of 20 ml. For a richer one, make demerara syrup from equal parts demerara sugar and hot water and use it in place of the sugar syrup. Champagne or cava work in place of the prosecco. For a long drink, strain over ice in a highball and top with 90 ml of sparkling wine. For a lighter one, use 60 ml of soda water in place of the prosecco. It cuts the alcohol and keeps the mint and lime at the front. An extra dash of bitters adds more spice.
The Old Cuban story
The Old Cuban was created by Audrey Saunders at Pegu Club in New York in the early 2000s. It was her answer to the Mojito and the French 75: aged rum, mint and lime, with bitters and a sparkling wine top. It is one of the better-known modern classics.
Aged rum gives it depth, and the bitters add spice. Original recipes use Champagne, but prosecco is a fine, cheaper swap. Double-strain it so no mint bits end up in the glass.
Old Cuban: your questions answered
What is in an Old Cuban?
An Old Cuban is made with 45 ml aged rum, 25 ml fresh lime juice, 20 ml sugar syrup, 6 fresh mint leaves, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters and 60 ml Prosecco. Garnish: mint leaf.
Is an Old Cuban shaken or stirred?
An Old Cuban is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps mix the juice in properly, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is an Old Cuban?
Made to this recipe, an Old Cuban contains about 2.5 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve an Old Cuban in?
Serve an Old Cuban in a coupe. No coupe? A flute or small wine glass.
