DonQ Raspberry Mojitos AND Strawberry Daiquiris

One day I arrived home and a package was awaiting me at the gate – It was a bottle of DonQ Cristal Rum!. The kind folks at DonQ sent me this beautiful bottle to sample. Recipes were included and we made one from the award winning Soy Chiever, head mixologist at New York City 's Ava Lounge.





From the DonQ site: “Unlike most clear rums, DonQ uses a multiple distillation system to produce a cleaner, more refined, and more delicate flavor profile. So a DonQ drink will sip smoother than a drink made with another rum. So smooth, in fact, that you can substitute Cristal in a vodka drink, and most won’t be able to tell the difference. It’s then aged in American White Oak barrels to impart a touch more smoothness. Try it. You’ll see.”




Raspberry Mojito

1 oz. DON Q CRISTAL
Bunch fresh mint
3/4 oz. Fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. Simple syrup
It calls for a splash of champagne but we used a bit more…something like 4 or 5 splashes
6+ Fresh raspberries

Muddle raspberries first, then mint. Add rum, lime juice, simple syrup and ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top it with a splash of champagne or sparkling wine.




But wait….we had rum left and a nice pint of fresh strawberries. What else can you do but get that blender out and start mixing.

Warning – if you greedily sip this ambrosia too fast, you will get a brain freeze. It never fails; when I get one and the pain is so great I always ask Doug if a brain freeze can be fatal. He says no but I am almost certain one could die from that stabbing pain.



Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris

1 cup Don Q Cristal
3/4 cup lime juice
1/3 cup simple syrup
1 (16 oz) package of frozen strawberries
Enough crushed ice to achieve desired consistency


Put rum, lime juice and simple syrup in blender long enough to mix ingredients. Add frozen strawberries and frappe.
Add ice and frappe again. Keep adding ice until desired level of slushiness is reached. Garnish with a half strawberry and a slice of lime, if desired. Makes approximately 6 servings, or three hurricane glasses.

We had these with olives and baguette.....



followed by maple ribs and salad.....



Thanks to DonQ, a talented amateur bartender and good food...it was a very nice fourth of July weekend.
Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday :-)

An abbreviated version is posted at Cocktail Puppy ...a place where you'll find many beautifully written posts by fellow cocktail enthusiasts.

Cheers!