Lets Talk Rum
Devon Reid, Contributor
Great Mojito Moments at Iberostar
Couples Swept Away’s O’Brian Jackson was emotional on the announcement of his victory at the recent Bacardi Mojito competition at Iberostar Resorts Rose Hall. Who can blame him after such a grueling day competing against some of Jamaica’s best bartenders for the inaugural Bacaridi Mojito championship. Second place went to Roy Lawrence from Grand Palladium and third place to Shane Reid from Rose Hall Resorts. A distinguished panel of judges namely Dr. Leachim Semaj, Jacqui Sinclair, Eva Myers, Jacqui Tyson and Jorge Lopez President of the Puerto Rico Bartenders Association were the arbitrators of this final outcome. O’Brian Jackson became $100,000 richer and travels to Puerto Rico on September 3rd as an Observer at the International Bartenders championship and will next year be Jamaica’s proud representative at the Caribbean Mojito championship.
The event was hosted by Caribbean Producers Jamaica Ltd (CPJ) and was the first of its kind in Jamaica. CPJ celebrates its fifteenth anniversary this year and the Mojito competition is part of a series of events in commemoration of this.
Participants were first given fifteen minutes to prepare their own garnishes and seven minutes each to prepare a Classic Mojito and a Creative Mojito. Bacardi, a company founded in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi is the originators of the Mojito with its signature Superior Rum.
Bacardi Superior Rum's perfectly balanced taste made it the rum of choice for cocktail pioneers as the principle ingredient in the birth of the world's best known rum cocktails including the Mojito (1860s), later featured in the 1931 book called Cuban Cookery, the Daiquiri (1896), the Cuba Libre (1900) and the Bacardi Cocktail TM (1917)
Produced from molasses mixed with spring water and selected yeast, Bacardi Superior is charcoal filtered to remove the impurities and contaminants. The result is a light, surprisingly smooth and flavorful drink.
For the Classic Mojito participants made a text book Mojito using the following ingredients and directions.
Ingredients
- 12 fresh spearmint leaves
- 1/2 lime
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- Ice
- 1 1/2 ounces Bacardi Superior
- Club soda
- Lime wedge and mint sprig, for garnish
Directions
In a tall glass, muddle or mash together the mint leaves and lime. Add the simple syrup or sugar and fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and top with club soda, stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.
The Creative Mojito allowed contestants to think outside the box using available fruits and vegetables to make a delectable eye catching Mojito cocktail. The Iberostar’s Music Room was abuzz with excitement and creativity as bartender after bartender matched skills to undo each other in flair, showmanship, creativity and originality.
This made O’Brian Jackson’s win so remarkable. It was sheer Mojito magic.
