Perhaps not very well-known, the canchanchara is one of Cuba’s oldest cocktails, starting life in eastern Cuba as a medicinal remedy used by Cuban soldiers fighting for independence against Spain in the late 1800s.  The soldiers drank it warm, like a toddy, to protect against chills and respiratory diseases.  Like the original mojito, the rum-based drink’s popularity grew with people consuming it whether they felt ill or not. — Editor’s Note