One of the highlights of traveling somewhere new is tasting something new. At luxurious Blancaneaux Lodge, I sat in the Jaguar Bar under ceiling fans from the set of Apocalypse Now and tried one of the best mojito’s I’ve ever sipped. Perhaps the location influenced my impressions. Owned by iconic film director Francis Ford Coppola, Blancaneaux Lodge is a luxury resort in Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge District. I was there to film my TV series, Equitrekking, and after a day of horseback riding to a waterfall and diving in, I was ready for a cocktail.
Made with fresh basil picked straight from this resort’s organic garden, I was not disappointed, so much so, that at a recent party that I threw, the Belize Basil Mojito was the specialty cocktail. My friends loved it. Here’s the recipe, so you can bring a little of this Belize speciality cocktail into your home.
Basil Mojito Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz white rum
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 tbs simple syrup
- Club soda
Next Steps
In a glass, muddle the basil leaves, lime, and simple syrup until the basil. Pour in the rum. Fill the glass most of the way with ice (crushed is best). Pour in the club soda to the top of the glass. Garnish with a basil leaf. Serves one. Multiply as needed.
