Old Cuban cocktail recipe

If the Mojito and Champagne cocktail had a love child, it might just be this Old Cuban. The cocktail was created in the early 2000s by Audrey Saunders, owner of the legendary Pegu Club in NYC, and it is now considered a modern classic. It makes for a great summer sipper, with the bubbles adding a nice lift, and the bitters and lime balancing out the sweetness from the sugar syrup.

It somehow all comes together to create a luxe style of cocktail – we think the bubbles help there. And when it's served in a coupe glass, as we have done here, it’s particularly hard not to feel just a touch more sophisticated.    

Rum is always a winner in our book, and in this recipe, dark rum brings plenty of rich flavour, alongside its classic counterparts of lime and sugar – there's very good reason why these three often go hand in hand. Then, a dash of bitters brings complexity, while the Champagne or sparkling wine makes this cocktail hit those fancy highs. Add Old Cuban to your repertoire – stat.   

As mentioned, you can use other styles of sparkling wines in an Old Cuban. Try swapping Champagne for your favourite prosecco and see if you can pick up the subtle differences. And if working with sparkling wines, tradition says go for a dry style, but you might also like seeing how it comes out with off-dry bubbles or your favourite sweeter option. Make this drink your own. 

Similarly, feel free to play around with the amount of mint in here. Go nuts or pull it right back, depending on your personal preference. Just remember that most people don't dig bits of mint floating around in their drink, so straining it upon serving can be key to mastering the Old Cuban.