By Jenna Ingraham
Portrait by Gary James
Feel the rhythm and taste the heat with the Spicy Mango Woodford Reserve Mojito at Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine. Laura Padrino Corredoira and her younger brother, Eduardo Padrino—third-generation owners of the restaurant—created this cocktail to shake up the traditional mojito with the warmth of bourbon while balancing the spiciness of jalapeno with the sweetness of mango. “It’s not overly spicy, but it offers a nice, well-balanced heat,” Eduardo says. Although this concoction (the winner of the recent Bourbon & Bites competition) isn’t on the menu, the bartenders will make it upon request. “It’s comparable to the rum classic,” Laura says, “but the Woodford comes through in a big way.” Padrino’s Cuban Cuisine, 1135 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
Ingredients:
2 ounces Woodford Reserve
¼ ounce mango puree
2 slices of jalapeno
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
Handful of fresh mint
Splash of club soda
Pinch of cracked chili mango spice
Put ingredients into cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Strain out jalapeno seeds, then strain cocktail into a Collins glass with fresh ice. Top with a splash of club soda and cracked chili mango spice. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
