Miami Spice is a big deal, but you already know that. As important as the food are the drinks, and Toro Toro recently held an internal competition including its top bartenders in the hunt for what would become the official cocktail of Miami Spice for the restaurant. For three weeks contenders mixed it up in a "shake off." The judges? Diners who were invited to sample the cocktails and vote for their favorite. What a tough job, right?
In the end, Joey Scorza came out on top with her unique take on the classic mojito -- the spicy ginger snap mojito. We had the pleasure of trying the mojito when we stopped by to sample their Miami Spice, and we can vouch for it. The best part? Joey has shared her recipe with us so that you can make the winning concoction at home.
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"I wanted to come up with something fun and playful for the competition. After all, I was going up against my fellow mixologists, so I knew my work was cut out for me," says Scorza. "I chose the Spicy Ginger SNAP mojito because Toro Toro is all about its pan-Latin flavors and you don't get much more Latin than a mojito. I like to mix cocktails that guests can drink with their eyes first so in addition to flavor, presentation was key for me, and the key to this drink."
So just how to dog make a spicy ginger SNAP mojito presentable? First you gotta get your ingredients together, alcohol being the most important. Everyone knows it's not a party without some alcohol. Here's you snap mojito shopping list:
- 1.5 ounces of Domaine De Cantone
- 1 ounce of Art in the Age SNAP
- ½ ounce of jalapeno simple syrup
- ¾ ounce of lime juice
- 3 lime wedges
- 7 mint leaves
Don't forget your garnishes -- it's not a mojito without these ...
- Ginger sugar
- Jalapeño juice
- Sprig of mint
- Ginger stick
And now for the method as Joey herself does it - you first want to rim the glass with jalapeño juice and dip in ginger sauce (yum!). Meanwhile, in a shaker, muddle the lime wedges and mint leaves. Once muddled, add the rest of ingredients (Domaine De Canton, Art in the Age SNAP, jalapeño simple syrup, lime juice) along with a scoop of ice. Then you shake till you can't shake no more, and then strain into a glass of empty on the rocks. Once you've managed the trickiest part, all you have to do is garnish with a sprig of mint and a ginger stick, and voila, you've got yourself a spicy ginger snap mojito. Next step is drink up.
See also: Miami Spice: The Ten Best Weekend Deals
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