Orange Mojito with Mint Skinny Syrup

Let's discuss a delicious and refreshing summertime cocktail. No, wait. First let's discuss a minor life annoyance. You go to a restaurant and order a chilled beverage such as iced tea or coffee. It arrives unsweetened along with a dish of various packets of sweetening options but you just know they will not blend perfectly. In some of the finer restaurants, the problem is resolved for you as your beverage arrives accompanied by a little jug of simple syrup. That elegant solution insures a perfect blend of sweetener to beverage but...what if I don't want actual sugar? What if I'd like to choose a sugar alternative? Back to the dish of packets we go...

As I was thinking about this and wondering why I never get the option of a sugar free syrup, I also wondered why I'd never thought to do that myself! I've made plenty of simple syrups before but would the sugar free alternative work? Sure does! And now I had a sugar free syrup to add to my chilled beverages. And if that chilled beverage happens to be a refreshing cocktail, why not raise the bar and make it a minty and skinny syrup.

As for the cocktail, I chose to add a bit of orange flavor to an otherwise simple mojito along with lots of refreshing mint. And as I look forward to the long Labor Day weekend, I'm envisioning a pitcher of refreshing orange mojitos on the table, a bottle of the skinny syrup for my guests to choose their own level of sweetness and long, lazy days in the garden enjoying the last bits of summer. Cheers!


Per Serving:
2 oz. Rum
1 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Orange flavored liqueur such as Triple Sec
1/2 oz. Skinny syrup
3 oz. Club soda
4 Mint leaves

Mint Skinny Syrup:
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Sweet'N Low (12 packets)
Large Handful of fresh mint

In a small pot, bring the water and Sweet'N Low to a simmer and stir until the Sweet'N Low has dissolved.  Remove from the heat and add the mint. Allow to cool and pour into a bottle along with the mint leaves. Store unused portion in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To make the cocktail, add the rum and mint to a cocktail shaker and muddle together using a muddler or the back of wooden spoon. Add the lime juice, orange liqueur and skinny syrup along with a handful of ice cubes. Shake well and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Top off with the club soda and a sprig of mint. If you're making a large batch, you can also leave out the skinny syrup and serve it separately so that guests can sweeten their drinks to their own taste.


Disclaimer:  As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, I was financially compensated and provided with samples of Sweet'N Low and coupons.  The recipe, photographs and opinions are my own.