Summer Mojito Recipe and Black Business Spotlight

Nothing says summer like an ice-cold, refreshing cocktail. With the many barbecues, cookouts, and crawfish boils being held this season, it’s a no-brainer that a person will need a drink to help cool themselves down as temperatures rise.

Whether you’re a frozen margarita lover or a Moscow Mule type of person, a good cocktail is a must for the summertime.

I had the chance to speak with Miko, Owner and CEO of Shots by Miko, a Kansas City-based mobile bar services company. Now, this is a woman who knows cocktails! 

Her company offers custom beverage creations for a variety of occasions, including weddings, graduations, work events, and more. 

Miko got her start with bartending after making different concoctions for her friends, then she eventually started bartending for a friend who had opened a nightclub.

Miko soon started bartending all over Kansas City, and began to grow a following due to her drink-mixing skills. Being the entrepreneur that she is, she said she started to notice that nightclubs and lounges she visited were in need of additional staff. 

She continued: 

“That’s where the idea for Shots by Miko came from. I gathered up some friends I knew and ladies I trained, and told them I had this idea about starting a company for bartenders for hire to fill in those gaps for the nightclubs.”

After the great work Miko and her team did, she said they eventually got requests for private events. She then told me her journey of obtaining her business license, the liquor licenses for her team, and how she had to learn a lot about her fast-growing business along the way.

What I love about Miko’s company is that all of their cocktails start off as mocktails, so there is really a drink for everyone! She loves creating environments where anyone can have a good time, even if they don’t drink alcohol.

“We work from a mocktail base upward instead of cocktail down.” She continued to say, “I also really like the social aspect of watching people enjoy themselves, especially when they’re celebrating such big events.”

I wrapped up my conversation with Miko with her giving me advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. She said that those looking to start a business should do their due diligence.

“Especially for Black entrepreneurs, I would say don’t fall into the mass generalization of a typical Black business, and that doesn’t come with a good connotation. It’s usually associated with bad customer service and lack of communication. Study the craft beforehand, before you go into a full-fledged business. Make sure you’re prepared because you don’t want that stigma attached to you.”

Miko and her team are staying busy as the company grows, from crafting custom drinks at various venues to hosting mixology classes to creating gift bags and other retail items.

To learn more about all that Shots by Miko offers, check out her website and follow this “first woman and minority-owned full service beverage company in Kansas City” on social media!

I hope that you’ve been enjoying your summer and taking some time to relax with loved ones. For your next get-together, try your hand at a new cocktail! I’ve listed my favorite cocktail recipe below if you’re interested in trying it for yourself!

Refreshing Strawberry Mojito 

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lime, cut into wedges 
• 10 – 15 fresh mint leaves
• 2 – 3 strawberries, chopped
• 3 fluid ounces white rum
• 1 cup club soda
• 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
• Ice cubes

Step 1:

Add the strawberries, mint leaves, and the lime wedges into drinking glasses of your choice.

Step 2:

Add the sugar to the glasses, then using a muddler, crush the strawberries, mint, and lime.

Step 3: 

Add the ice cubes to the glasses, filling them nearly to the top. 

Step 4: 

Add the rum over the ice and then fill your glasses with the club soda.

Step 5: 

Stir your beverage to thoroughly mix all ingredients and garnish with remaining lime wedges.

Enjoy this sweet, refreshing drink on the patio or at your next cookout!