Kumquat Mojitos

• Recipe by Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Classic mojitos are made with rum, muddled mint and limes; Jean-Georges Vongerichten keeps things interesting by swapping the limes for tart kumquats and kalamansi concentrate, the frozen juice of the sour Asian citrus fruit. If kalamansi isn’t available, regular orange juice concentrate tastes just as good.

Ingredients

1. 20 kumquats ( 1/2 pound), halved lengthwise
2. 1 cup mint leaves
3. One 10-ounce can frozen kalamansi or orange juice concentrate, thawed
4. 1 3/4 cups white rum
5. 1 quart club soda
6. 1 large lime, cut into 10 thin wedges

Directions

1. In a large pitcher, combine the halved kumquats and mint leaves. Using a large wooden spoon, vigorously muddle the mixture. Pour in the juice concentrate, rum and club soda and squeeze in the lime wedges. Fill the pitcher with ice and serve.