Mariposa
Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 19.3% ABV ∙
The Mariposa is a muddled rum sour built with cherry tomato, fresh basil, lemon, and elderflower liqueur, shaken and served up. Bright and silky on the tongue, with a savory undertone giving way to a crisp, floral finish that lingers just long enough.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the shaker, muddle: Cherry tomato 1 pc and then Fresh basil leaves 4 pcs
- Add the remaining ingredients: White rum 50 mlLemon juice 25 mlElderflower liqueur 25 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Shake with ice and fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with half a cherry tomato and a basil sprig on the rim
Tips
- Muddle the cherry tomato and basil gently — press just enough to release juice and oils without pulverizing the seeds or stems.
- Shake hard and briefly — the goal is a cold, aerated drink, not extra dilution that would mute the basil.
- Fine-strain into the chilled glass to keep basil flecks and tomato skin out of the finished pour.
History
The Mariposa is a modern savory cocktail created by Robb Collins, group head bartender at the London Cocktail Club, for the 2015 Bacardi Legacy UK Finals, a national bartending competition. Collins built the drink around a muddled cherry tomato and fresh basil paired with white rum, lemon juice, and elderflower liqueur, giving it an unusual savory, tangy, floral profile compared with typical rum sours of the era. The name, Spanish for "butterfly," was tied to a fictional wartime backstory the bartender devised for the competition, describing an American soldier falling in love with a French-Cuban woman named Mariposa during World War II.
FAQ
What is a Mariposa margarita?
A Mariposa margarita is a different drink from this cocktail: it is typically a tequila-based margarita variation, often made with grapefruit juice. This Mariposa is a white rum sour built with muddled cherry tomato and basil, lemon juice, and elderflower liqueur, with no tequila or grapefruit involved.
