Mojitos for a Bunch!

(Adapted from Michael Chiarello's recipe on www.foodnetwork.com)

I love mojitos, as there's no more refreshing light summer cocktail, but they are a royal pain to make, especially if you are serving a big group. I hear that bartenders are prone to cuss when someone orders them, in fact.

So I love this recipe from Michael Chiarello,because it is delicious and serves a group with ease, but I halved the rum and cut the sugar for our taste. The lemons tend to be juicier and bigger than limes and add a nice balance to these drinks.

In a big pitcher:

Put one bunch mint, cleaned. (If you plant it, it will grow, and come back every year with abundance.)

Add 1/2 to 3/4 c sugar and mash with a big wooden spooon to release mint oil. (Or just enough sugar to serve as abrasion to mint, then use agave nector to taste)

To this add "mash" add:
Juice of 3 to 4 limes and 2 lemons

Mix well.

Add 1/2 bottle (750ml) white rum (I've also made with vodka and it is delicious. Rum sometimes give me a headache!)

Top with club soda, leaving room at top of pitcher for ice. Put in about 2 - 3 cups of ice.

Stir and pour into glasses (with the ice) garnishing each glass with a sprig or two of mint.

This serves about 8 people. If you squeeze the citrus ahead of time, you can quickly make another pitcher if you have more people.

You can also cut this in half easily (2 limes, 1 lemon) for a smaller group.