Put 5 or 6 mint leaves in a bowl with 1 cup of sugar.
Mash the mint leaves into the sugar to release the oils.
Combine the sugar/mint mixture with 1 cup of water and simmer over low heat for a few minutes. This releases more oils in the mint.
Let this mixture cool them strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or maybe 1 layer of cheese cloth to remove the big mint pieces. Tiny specks of mint are ok. Simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator.
Mojito
Use a high ball or old fashioned glass
2 oz. white rum (use the good stuff)
1 1/2 oz. minted simple syrup
Juice of 1 lime (fresh squeezed right into the glass is best)
Fill the glass with ice and top off with club soda.
Garnish with a lime slice and a couple mint leaves.
Source: My brother, Teak.
Notes: The key to this refreshing drink is the MINTED special syrup.
