641204 Sat Aug 01 13:40:02 -0700 2009 1 36 Spirits 0 4909253 Okay -- following suggestions on chowhound, I now have a quart of simple syrup flavored with muddled mint. I'm hoping my quart will make considerably more than one punch bow full of mojitos but I've time to make more syrup if you say I need more. The silver punch bowl is polished and ready. The party is tomorrow and I'm expecting about 35 people although not all of them will be drinking mojitos. I've got enough fresh mint gathered from a friend's garden sitting in a vase to serve mojitos to the universe. Now, how do I turn all this into drinks. How much simple syrup? How much lime juice? Can I mix the lime juice in early? Can I mix in bottled lime juice and fresh lime juice (I don't think I've bought enough limes for fresh lime juice across the board but I can run out and buy more tomorrow morning if you say I must. Club soda or sprite? (I know that goes in at the end but how much per bowl full? I've been looking at recipes but they are all for a pitcher full and this should be at least three pitcher fulls to fill the punch bowl. Sat Aug 01 13:40:02 -0700 2009 63171 susanl143 1 4909331 If you don't think you have enough limes, just go buy more now. Bottled lime juice is to fresh lime juice as the green Kraft shaker can of "Parmesan" is to Parmigiano-Reggiano. Not all of your guests will be drinking mojitos, but still you can expect to go through about 70 mojitos. Some people will have an extra (or two) to make up for the people who aren't drinking. When I make my mojitos, I use: 1/2 of a lime 8-10 mint leaves 1 heaping teaspoon sugar (1/2 ounce of simple syrup should work just fine) 2 ounces light rum 2 ounces club soda Sprite is an abomination in mojitos. So, for 70 drinks... 35 limes (this should work out to a little more than a pint of lime juice) The full quart of minted simple syrup two 1.75 liter bottles plus one 750 ml bottle light rum (My favorite for this is Cruzan; cheaper than Bacardi and tastes WAY better) two 2-liter bottles club soda Now, a little secret... the oil in the lime rinds is the difference between a good mojito and a great mojito. Once you're done squeezing all those limes, take the spent shells and drop them into the rum. Let them sit overnight. In the morning, strain out the shells and proceed as usual. As far as assembly goes, you can either mix everything together with ice, or leave out the club soda and let people top theirs to their liking. Either way, make sure the club soda is cold before opening, otherwise it will go flat in no time. Since you have tons of mint, something nice to do is to put a few sprigs on each glass, and have straws cut short so that when they take a drink, their nose is buried in the mint. I do that for mint juleps and it adds quite nicely to the drink. Sat Aug 01 14:25:31 -0700 2009 4909253 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester