HEMINGWAY IN CUBA

Ernest Miller Hemingway was one of the most famous American novelists, short story writers, and journalists of the 20th century. His clean, lean prose style influenced generations of writers. He was a well-travelled, well known outdoor sportsman, and among the most famous literary celebrities of the 20th century.

His novels include The sun also rises (1926) A farewell to Arms (1929) From whom the Bells Tolls (1940) and the Old man and the Sea (1952). His short stories include the Snows of Kilimanjaro, the Killers, A clean Well-lighted Place, and many others. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954.

Hemingway lived on a plantation he called Finca Vigia, or Lookout Farm, in San Francisco de Paula, from mid 1939 to 1960. He rented it at first. After he married his third wife, journalist Martha Gelhorn, he bought the small 15 acre farm and house outright in December 1940.

Hemingway wrote most of his famous Spanish civil war novel, “For whom the bell Toll”, while living at Fince Vigia. He also wrote the Old man and the Sea while at Finca Vigia.

Hemingway was one of Cuba’s most internationally famous residents. He was known to stay out late drinking in the many saloons. Especially endearing to the Cuban people was the fact that, even after the Cuban revolution in early 1959, Hemingway retained good relations with the Cuban government, and remained a resident until 1960, a year after Castro took power and a year before Hemingway took his own life.

While still a resident, Hemingway presented a trophy to Fidel Castro who won a fishing contest in 1960, which was named in Hemingway honour. After Hemingway committed suicide in Indaho on July 2, 1961 the house became the property of the Cuban people.

In the intervening years, Finca Vigia, which remained a popular icon in modern Cuban history, fell into disrepair. But the Cuban government refurbished the estate in 2007. Hemingway remained a popular icon in Cuba. He has a lasting reputation for being a champion of Cuban life as its drink.

Don’t bother with churches, government buildings or city squares, if you want to know about a culture, Hemingway once wrote.”Spend a night in its bars”. He was a fan of Mojitos and daiquiris. His quotes can still be found engraved at the renowned bar La Bodeguita del Media where he carved it himself. It was the drinking establishment where Hemingway imbibed his first mojito. “My mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita”.

An authentic mojito is usually made with Cuban rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and a splash of sparkling water. But at La Bodeguita, Hemingway had his own version, which substituted sparkling wine for the club soda.

HEMINGWAY’S MOJITO:

1 Lime
2 Tsp natural cane sugar
5 Fresh mint leaves
1.5oz Cuban rum
3 Oz sparkling wine

1. Juice the lime
2. Then add juice, sugar, and mint leaves to a rocks cocktails glass
3. Muddle the mint leaves
4. Add rum and sparkling wine and stir slowly
5. Garnish with lime twist

To find out more about Hemingway’s time in Cuba and his Mojito, you can contact us today at Taylors Tobacconists.