Mojitos At Agozar! Cuban Restaurant

From strawberry to coconut to tropical mojitos, the Zagat Nightlife Guide says "if you love" these mint cocktails, the "yummy" variety at Agozar! in NoHo just plain "rocks!"

So, we visited the family-run Cuban lounge and restaurant to find out how to shake up your own mojitos. But first, we asked Co-Owner Gerardo Perez about the origins of this cocktail.

"It got very famous in Cuba like 1930s, 1940s at an establishment called La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana where Ernest Hemingway was a regular there, says Agozar! co-owner Geraldo Perez. And basically it gained its fame there and then it moved over into Key West where Ernest Hemingway again, Sloppy Joe's and then after that it moved on up to South Beach and now where we are today. Its a very popular drink."

For all mojitos, you need some basic ingredients: mint, sugar, limes, rum and sour mix.

"Sour mix here we make from scratch, says Agozar! bar manager Alex Obregon. We use honey, sugar and limes and lemons."

You can also purchase pre-made sour mix. Once you have your ingredients, it's time to mix, pour and shake things up.

"You start off by using the mint. You add a tablespoon of sugar. Usually, we just use one [slice of] lime, cause there's enough lime in the sour mix. Then we just crush it up and then we add ice to the glass, then we top it with rum and sour mix and then shake it up, and there you go you got your mojito, says Obregon.

Now if you want to get creative, you can also add your favorite fruits. And here at the "festive" Agozar!, Zagat surveyors suggest pairing your mojitos, which also come by the pitcher, with "delicious small plates." And fans rave about the "everyday happy hour" which keeps things "totally affordable."

So how does Agozar! rate in the Zagat guide? Out of a possible 30, this Cuban bistro receives an 18 for appeal, a 15 for decor and a 19 for service. Zagat says a drink here will cost you about $11 a pour.

Agozar!
324 Bowery
(212)677-6773
www.agozarnyc.com

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Howto & Style

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• Cuban Restaurant
• NYC Restaurant
• Mojito
• Happy Hours
• Cuban
• Agozar
• Agozar Cuban Restaurant
• Cuban Food
• New York
• NYC Restaurants
• Cuban Restaurants