Lemon Mojito

I started thinking mojito when we were at the supermarket this evening, but I forgot to buy limes.  Come to find out, you can make a very tasty, mojito-like drink without them.  A word of caution – they go down much too easily.

I muddled (using the handle of my wooden meat tenderizing mallet) a large sprig of mint with half of a lemon (cut into quarters), added ice, a generous shot of rum, 3 to 4 tablespoons of simple syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water, heated in the microwave just until the sugar dissolves), and enough sparkling water to fill the glass.