Cuban Cocktails

Mojito

The Mojito has been around for over a century. Starting life as the drink of the Cuban Campesino - Sugar, Lime and Mint took the rough edge off strong cheap rum. Passed on from fellow bar owner Jose Abeal to the founder of La Bodeguita Angel Martinez, the Mojito has been enjoyed in Havana by many famous faces such as John Wayne, Clarke Gable and of course our most regular visitor Ernest Hemingway.

Our mix of Havana Club Rum, Fresh Mint & Lime, Soda & Sugar is sure to have you dancing back to the bar for another. 14

Cuba Libre

Named for the Cuban Liberation Army whose battle cry was said to be of the same name and first poured by the Cuban bartender Fausto Rodriguez in around 1900 it has become a Cuban tradition that before drinking we raise are glasses and toast "Cuba Libre" which translates as Free Cuba.

A busy bartenders dream cocktail, Rum and Coke! But dont forget the Fresh Lime. 14

Daiquiri

Arguably invented back in 1900 at Venus in Santiago, Cuba, for miners who had run out of gin, and relatively localised to Cuba until rationing of Whisky and Vodka during the Second World War. This concoction of Rum, Sugar and Lime has become the most famous cocktail served at Restaurante Floridita which has become known as "The Cradle of the Daiquiri". Also a favourite thirst quencher of conspiricy of the centruy contender John F. Kennedy!

Havana Club Rum with Fresh Lime & a hint of sweetness. 14

Mulata Daiquiri

This rich chocolaty Daiquiri first appeared in the Cuban Book "Bartender's Sixth Sense" and was said to have been invented by Jose Maria Vazquez sometime in the 1940's. It is the perfect accompaniment for an evening Cigar on the terrace.

7 year old Cuban Rum with a generous squeeze of Lime and a dash of Cacao. 16

Daiquiri #3 / Hemingway Special

The Hemingway special is a straight up version of a classic drink of 1930's Havana. Ernest himself favoured a triple shot of rum with no sugar and a quick blast in the blender. We have added a little sugar to bring the flavours together. If you have a preference for this drink please let us know and we will make it how you want it.

Havana Club Rum shaken with Fresh Lime, Grapefriuit and a slug of Maraschino liquer. 1

Cuban President

Created at The Jockey Club, Havana during the American Prohibition this cocktail was named in honour of Cuban President Gerardo Machado, although we don't know whether he drank them. Cuban author Basil Woon wrote of this drink "It is the aristocrat of cocktails and is the one preferred by the better class of Cuban". Now available to all classes!

White Cuban Rum mixed with Vermouth and Cointreau, ideal for the discerning drinker. 16

Mary Pickford

Created during the 1920's, for screen actress Mary Pickford and invented by Fred Kauffman at the Hotel Nacîonal de Cuba. Mary was filming alongside her husband Douglas Fairbanks and the legendary silent movie actor Charlie Chaplin. Pray Silence, for this glorious mix of white Rum, Pineapple and Pomegranate. With a later addition of maraschino liqueur to perfect the balance of flavour. This cocktail is a pre dinner cocktail must for the ladies.

Havana Club Rum along with Pineapple & Maraschino liquer. 15

Nacional

An old classic, and named for the Hotel where it was created. This fruity mix has been enjoyed across bars such as Sloppy Joe's, La Florida and of course La Bodeguita del Medio. You may still see this drink on many menus across Havana and the surrounding cities.

Club Havana Rum, Apricot liquer and a couple of splashes of Pineapple Juice. 15

Havana Flip

Pulled straight from Cuban cocktail lists of the 1930's this drink has been renamed as we are using a Cuban Rum as opposed to the now Puerto Rican original used. A marvellous drink to start your day!

Havana Club 7 year old shaken with vigour, a whole egg and caster sugar. 17

Cuba Bella

Another of the Cuban Classics that was once forgotten, and now making a comeback. Appearing in the Sloppy Joe manual as well as many bars around in the 1930s, this cocktail is a little different from the fruity generic cocktails of the modern age

White Havana Club Rum combined with Mint liquer and Orange juice. 16

Rum Daisy

An adaptation of the Professor Jerry Thomas' recipe, and with a base spirit of rum. A true rum drinkers choice with the addition of some lemon zest and Chartreuse you may not have tasted anything like this for a while (around 50 years)

Yellow Chartreuse and Havana Club Rum with a dash of bitters and Lemon peel. 17

Ernest's Breakfast

Created at La Bodeguita del Medio, Prague by soon to be famous James Carlin, this mix is an adaptation of the modern classic breakfast martini by Salvatore Calbrasi. We have removed the gin and replaced with rum, also an added twist of homemade grapefruit marmalade for a wonderfully bitter finish.

Cuban Rum shaken with Grapefruit Marmalade, Cointreau and Lemon juice. 17

Mai Tai

Trader Vic Bergeron first made this famous drink in 1944 in Oakland California. There have been arguments over whether this drink was actually invented by Don the Beachcomber but, as Vic says in his bartender's guide "Anybody who says I didn't create this drink is a Dirty Stinker" All we know is that the Mai Tai has stood the test of time and has become one of the most famous drinks ever to by served over 2 feet of mahogany.

Jamiacan Rum relaxing together with Orange liquer, Lime and Almond syrup. 16/40

Between the Sheets

This bartenders favourite made its debut in 1930’s Paris at Harry’s New York Bar & is said to be a variation of the classic Sidecar.

Havana Club Rum & Cognac shaken into bed with fresh lemon juice & Cointreau 17

Quaker

In our opinion this is one greatest cocktails made by the Maestro of 1930’s drinking Harry Craddock of The Savoy, London.

Havana Blanco Rum & Cognac shaken with raspberry syrup & fresh lemon juice 17

Grog

Up until July 1970 sailors aboard British naval ships were given a daily ration of rum, a tradition adopted as a safety precaution because of the potential contaminates in water carried to sea. When this tradition was laid to rest on what is now known as “Black Tot day sailors said farewell to the last issue of Nelson’s Blood, (as rum was known in the navy), by conducting mock funerals & wearing black armbands.

Pusser’s Navy Rum with honey & fresh lime juice to avoid a case of scurvy! 17/190

Fish House Punch

This punch was invented in 1732 at the still operating State in Schuylkill fishing & social club in Philadelphia as an pre dinner treat for the wives of social club members.

Written of this drink in an 1896 edition of The New York Times “He who sips for the first time imagines he has been made immortal by the ambrosia of the Gods, & only realises when he is under the table, that he still belongs to the Earth”

Cognac & Havana Club Especial swimming round the bowl with Crème de Peche & fresh lemon juice 17

Planters Punch

This cocktail featured as early as 1901 on the back of Myer’s rum bottles & was invented by the owner of the distillery Fred L. Myers in late 1900’s.

Myer’s Jamaican Rum with fresh lime juice, sugar& a dash of bitters 17

Dark 'n' Stormy

The National drink of Bermuda. The name is said to have originated when an old salt, looking through the liquid as he held his glass aloft, observed that the drink was “the colour of a cloud only a fool or dead man would sail under". Gosling’s holds the trademark on the Dark ‘n Stormy, so making the drink with any other brand of rum is… unlawful.

Gosling’s Rum with ginger beer & fresh lime 17/35