Here’s a Korean twist on a classic Cuban cocktail, the Mojito. Mojitos are a rum-based cocktail made with limes, mint, sugar cane, and club soda. This cocktail adds fresh cucumber and perilla leaves instead of mint leaves, making this a delicious fusion cocktail!
I recently had my very first pop-up at the Japanese-American Cultural & Community Center, and I knew I wanted to incorporate some of my Cuban roots somehow. I didn’t have enough courses to make a Cuban dish, so instead I incorporated it into the cocktail pairing menu.
This is without a doubt, one of the most delicious cocktail recipes I have ever created. It was a hit at the pop-up!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz light rum
- 3/4 oz agave or simple syrup
- 3 perilla leaves (1 is for garnish)
- 4 cucumber slices
- 1 oz club soda
What is Perilla? Where to find it?
Perilla is a Korean herb (kkaenip) that is often used as ssam (lettuce wrap), but also used as an ingredient in a lot of cooking. It is even turned into a powder and used to flavor dishes that way.
As a kid, I HATED perilla. I think this is the case for most Korean children. But as I got older, it came to be my favorite herb!
The flavor is kind of hard to describe- it’s very unique and often compared to shiso even though I think they taste nothing alike. It is part of the mint family and has a very strong taste and aroma. Some people say it has a slight anise flavor, which is interesting because I do not like anise at all.
More cocktail recipes to try
Perilla Cucumber Mojito
Ingredients
- 2 oz white rum or tequila, vodka, or gin
- 3/4 oz agave syrup or simple syrup
- 3 perilla leaves 1 is for garnish
- 3 lime wedges (half a lime)
- 4 cucumber slices
- 1 oz club soda
Instructions
- In a shaker, combine 4 cucumber slices, 3 lime wedges, and 2 perilla leaves that have been torn apart. Muddle until crushed and juices/oils are released.
- Add 3/4 oz of agave nectar (or your choice of sweetener), 2 oz white rum, and ice. Shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds.
- Double strain over fresh ice into a glass, then top with 1 oz of club soda.
- Garnish with 1 perilla leaf.
