Feeling thirsty on a hot summer day? Quench your thirst with this refreshing Mojito recipe! This classic cocktail is packed with fresh mint leaves, tangy lime juice, and a kick of rum. It’s perfect for sipping on the patio or by the pool.
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This classic Cuban mojito is easy to make. It is made with fresh mint, rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and a splash of club soda. It’s the perfect fizzy concoction to sip on. To bring out the flavor of the herbs in the mint mojito recipe, muddling is critical, but don’t overdo it!
It’s easy to customize the drink with the ingredients you have in your kitchen. I often like to add seasonal fruit to switch up the flavor. Add this drink to your happy hour menu, or whip up cocktails for celebrations to impress your guests.
Key mojito ingredients
- Rum: Use a white rum to make the mojito. I prefer Bacardí Superior rum. It has a crisp, clean, light taste and doesn’t dominate the drink’s flavor; it adds a nice balance.
- Mint Leaves: Fresh mint leaves add a subtly sweet, lingering cooling effect to the drink. The minty aroma makes the drink even more enticing. If using peppermint, it will have a more pungent menthol taste.
- Limes: Use freshly squeezed lime juice. The citrus aroma, essential oils, and tangy flavor add the base taste to the mojito. Plan for about 1 whole lime per drink to yield about 1 ounce of juice. Buy extra limes for garnish.
- Simple Syrup: A little bit of sugar balances the acidic taste of the limes. Simple syrup dissolves quickly when mixed and doesn’t leave small granules. For a sweeter taste without diluting the drink, use the rich simple syrup for double the sweetness of regular.
- Club Soda: To add some bubbly effervescence to the cocktail. A splash on top adds carbonation to make the drink even more refreshing.
- Ice: Any type of ice can be used, like cubed or crushed. I use crushed because it quickly cools the drink. The tiny pieces of shaken ice give a pleasant chilled experience.
What is a muddler?
When making a mojito, you’ll need one particular tool. A muddler is typically a long piece of wood that’s flat on the bottom, shaped like a pestle. It’s ideal for gently releasing the mint flavor and aroma compounds into the drink.
You can also purchase metal muddlers with pointed groves to help break down more prominent pieces of fruit. If you don’t have a muddler, use a wooden spoon instead.
Muddle the mint
Add 6 to 8 mint leaves to a cocktail shaker or larger pint glass. Add the leaves to the bottom, and ½ to 1 ounce of simple syrup, depending on how sweet you like your drink. Gently press and twist the leaves with the muddler, repeating a total of 3 to 4 times.
Do not vigorously smash down and bruise the leaves, or the drink will taste bitter. I don’t muddle the lime wedges like a caipirinha, but you certainly can if you like a strong citrus oil flavor in the mojito.
Mix the drink
Add 2 ounces of white rum, 1 ounce of lime juice, and about ½ cup of ice to the cocktail shaker. Cover and shake to mix the drink. The ice also helps release more mint flavor into the mojito. The drink is ready to strain the rum cocktail into the serving glass.
How to serve the mojito
Traditionally a tall highball glass is used to serve the mojito. They are tall and narrow, and typically hold between 8 to 12 ounces of liquid. It’s ideal when the drink is poured over ice, with plenty of room to add the club soda mixer to top off the glass.
Strain the contents of the cocktail strainer into a glass filled with ice. Pour in the club soda until it reaches almost the top of the glass. I typically don’t add more than ½ cup. Use less for a more robust lime flavor. Garnish the mojito mint and a lime wheel or wedge. This adds a pleasant aroma when sipping the drink.
Flavor variations
There are various ways to customize a mojito. When different fruits are in season, they add a lot of naturally sweet flavor to the cocktail. This recipe is the perfect base for a mint mojito but try these other flavors.
- Rum: Use dark, spiced, or flavored rum like coconut.
- Sugar: Instead of simple syrup, use agave or honey. Use granulated sugar, demerara, or brown sugar for a lingering molasses note, and superfine or castor sugar to dissolve quickly. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons per mojito.
- Soda Water: Use seltzer, sparkling mineral water, or unsweetened sparkling water like LaCroix.
- Fruit: Muddle blueberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, or lime wedges. Add a splash of the juice for a stronger taste.
- Herbs: Try adding basil, rosemary, or thyme instead of mint or as a combination.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy the mojito for your next happy hour, but make sure to serve with some of these tasty snacks or dishes for a complete feast.
- Chips and homemade salsa or guacamole
- Fish tacos, shrimp tacos, or chicken tacos
- Carne Asada, steak fajitas, or beef tacos
- Cilantro lime rice or Mexican rice
- Churros
- If you like mojitos, try my Cadillac margarita
Frequently asked questions
White rum is traditionally used to make classic mojitos. It has a slightly sweet taste, as it’s made from sugar cane or molasses. The clear color and crisp taste mix seamlessly with the lime juice and sweetener.
Yes, vodka is a suitable substitution for rum. It will have a slightly different flavor profile depending on how it was produced, like from grain, rye, or potatoes. Rum is smoother and sweeter in flavor.
Use a tall highball glass. This gives plenty of room to add ice, the rum and lime mixture, and top with club soda.
The difference between club soda and other carbonated waters
Club soda is a carbonated mixer often added to cocktails. It also contains potassium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate. The minerals make it slightly saltier than seltzer. Seltzer is carbonated spring water, also called sparkling water. Mineral water is naturally carbonated from the springs and is pricier. In a mojito, you can use club soda, seltzer water, and mineral water interchangeably. Do not use tonic water! It’s already sweetened and has an added bitter taste from the ingredient quinine.
Mojito
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce lime juice
- club soda
- ice, crushed or cubed
Instructions
- Muddle the Mint – Lightly muddle the mint and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker or tall pint glass. Lightly press and turn the muddler into the mixture, about 3 to 4 times. Do not bruise the leaves or vigorously muddle, or the mint will taste bitter.
- Mix the Drink – Add the rum, lime juice, and about ½ cup of ice. Cover and briefly shake. Alternatively, stir them together to mix.
- To Serve – Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. If desired, garnish with mint leaves and lime wheel or wedge.
Equipment
Notes
- Short Video: Watch this recipe come together.
- Garnish: Mint and lime wheels or wedges.
- Adding Sugar: Use 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar instead of simple syrup. Shake or sit still until the granules are dissolved.
- For a Sweeter Mojito: Add 1 ounce of simple syrup or use the same amount of rich simple syrup.
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