Elevate the everyday: Delicious drinks with Daniella Senior

Capital One wants to help you “Elevate The Everyday” so you can do more of what you enjoy—like adding some unique stylistic spins to cocktails and mocktails. We’re bringing you personal hacks, tips and tricks for all the things you love doing—straight from the professional tastemakers and trendsetters filling your feed. 

This episode of Elevate The Everyday is mixing up cocktails and mocktails for a new spin on a classic mojito. Daniella Senior takes you into her kitchen to show you how to dial up your drinks for some show-stopping beverages that will impress the whole crowd at your next backyard BBQ.

Daniella is a James Beard-recognized restaurateur and beverage expert as well as the co-founder of Colada Shop, a lively spot for innovative drinks in Washington, D.C. She takes her Dominican Republic upbringing and mixes it into her creative cocktails, juices and small bites. 

Now that summer is here and social gatherings have once again started to fill the calendar, there’s never been a better time to learn how to make a cocktail or mocktail that is as visually stunning as it is sippable. Because is it even really a backyard BBQ without a pitcher of refreshing cocktails (or mocktails)?

Watch the video above for a step-by-step guide to creating a fresh and minty mojito or mocktail with an unexpected, colorful twist. Deep-blue ice cubes made from natural butterfly pea flower tea make this drink look as good as it tastes.  

Here is Daniella’s Deep-Blue Mint Mojito recipe and everything you need for a super-simple pitcher of cocktails/mocktails:

Ingredients:

• Mint simple syrup
• Lime
• Lime juice
• Deep-blue ice cubes
• Soda water

Deep-Blue ice cubes:
Mix ½ tsp of butterfly pea flower tea powder per cup of water. 
Bring water to a boil and add butterfly pea flower tea powder.
Stir to dissolve.
Pour into an ice cube tray.
Freeze until solid. 

These deep-blue ice cubes are an elevated and eye-catching addition to any drink, alcoholic or not.

Dried lime garnish:
Preheat the oven to 200°F.
Slice lime into rounds.
Place on a wire rack on a baking tray.
Bake for 1-1.5 hours, until the lime is dehydrated.

Making a large batch of dried limes will come in handy for future cocktails and mocktails.

Mint simple syrup:
Add mint stems to a carafe (approx. 5 per cup of water).
Add 1 part sugar and 1 part hot water.
Swirl to dissolve.
Let the syrup cool.
Remove and discard stems. 

Mojito:
In a large pitcher, add:  
2 parts white rum (coconut water for a mocktail). 
1 part fresh lime juice. 
1 part mint simple syrup.
Mix.

Smack 3-5 mint leaves to release flavor.
Lightly muddle 5 mint leaves on the bottom of each glass. 

Fill glass all the way to the top with blue ice cubes. 
Add 5 oz of mojito mix to the glass and top with ¾ oz of soda water. (Do this in front of guests to show off the color change.)

Garnish with mint sprig and dehydrated lime wheel.

Enjoy responsibly!

Capital One is proud to be the official bank and credit card partner of the James Beard Foundation and supports the impactful work they are doing in the dining industry. “Capital One is constantly looking for ways to give our customers exclusive access to unique opportunities, and this multiyear partnership allows us to do that while supporting chefs and their local communities,” says Lauren Liss, Managing Vice President at Capital One.