THE OLD CUBAN

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker, place: mint leaves, simple syrup, and fresh-squeezed lime juice. Gently bruise the mint leaves with a wooden muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. Add:1 1/2 ounces Bacardi 8 (or substitute another medium-bodied gold rum) 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Fill shaker with ice, and shake well for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (you may wish to use a tea strainer to remove the tiny flecks of mint). Top with 2 ounces chilled sparkling wine; garnish with mint leaf.