Caribbean drink, Hawaiian twist

Over at the Lazy Dog, it’s “Hasta la vista!” to the lime and “Aloha” to the pineapple, now that accidents of circumstance have brought two popular spheres of influence – the lime and the pineapple – into a happy collision known as the Pineapple Mojito.

“We took the traditional version of the mojito,” says Lazy Dog’s executive chef Gabriel Caliendo, “and added natural pineapple juice and Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum. It’s a Caribbean drink with a Hawaiian twist.”

Because the restaurant had already been developing a Hawaiian theme for its menu, it was only a matter of time before Caliendo, who likes messing around behind the bar as much as he does in the kitchen, made his discovery.

“We were looking at the menu at the time and going through it to revamp it,” he says. “At the same time I was trying to figure out a way to differentiate our mojito from others out there.”

While working on the concoction, he noticed that most rums (the mojito’s base liquor) run to the Caribbean variety – but one brand fixed a course for the old Sandwich Islands – Sailor Jerry’s.

The resulting eruption of genius, the Pineapple Mojito, settles well on the throne usually reserved for the traditional mojito’s lime and mint – but with a flavor that doesn’t usurp the realm.

“There’s a nice taste of pineapple,” he says, “but the best of the lemon and lime juice mix gives it the sour it needs so it’s balanced – it’s not just sweet up front. The spiced rum is smooth and some of the rum’s caramel notes and cinnamon also balance out the drink.”

How to Make It

• 1.5 oz. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
• 1 oz. Lazy Dog’s Mojito Mix*
• 2 oz. Soda Water
• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz. Simple syrup
• 6 mint leaves
• 3 lime wedges
• 1 pineapple sugar cane skewer
• 1 dash tajin

Muddle mint, lime and simple syrup, add ice and other ingredients to shaker, shake, pour into tajin-rimmed glass, rinse shaker with soda water and pour into glass, top with ice and garnish with pineapple on sugarcane skewer.

*Lazy Dog’s Mojito Mix

• 1 cup Lime Juice
• 1 cup Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Orange Juice
• 2 cups Water
• cup Sugar
• Melt sugar into water at low heat and stir in juices.