Nice-to-haves

• Fresh mint leaves • Water for your ice tray • 200ml simple syrup

Directions: Prepare ice blocks and add them to four double rocks glasses. Squeeze the limes in a lemon squeezer and distribute between the glasses. Add mint leaves, sparkling water and simple syrup, stir and serve chilled. Serves four.

Feeling creative? • Use a heavyweight blender or food processor to crush the ice before adding it to the glasses. • Swop sparkling water for lemonade to add to the sweetness of the drink. • Add crushed berries to make your own berry-flavoured variation. • Mint is delicate, so never over stir or crush the mint before adding it to your mojito – it only needs a subtle touch to release its flavour.

Pairing tip: Mint has an exceptional ability to add crispness to nutty and neutral flavours, so pair your virgin mojito with dishes that contain avo and you won’t go wrong. Think salads or Mexican food like tacos or nachos with guacamole. You could even make your own avocado boats by adding grated cheese, fried bacon bits and scrambled eggs to halved avos and baking them for eight minutes.

Citrus drop spritzer

Ingredients: • 1–2 oranges • 1l sparkling water • Water for your ice tray • A few sprigs of rosemary • 200ml simple syrup

Directions: Prepare ice blocks and add them to four double rocks glasses. Cut the oranges into circular rounds and distribute between glasses. Add sparkling water and simple syrup, stir and garnish with a sprig of rosemary. Serves four. Feeling creative? • Add some mint leaves