Mojito
38 Comments
Updated May 17, 2024
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This classic mint mojito is one of my go-to summer cocktails. It’s quick to make with five simple ingredients and flavored with refreshing, citrusy, minty-fresh goodness. Perfect to enjoy on hot summer days or lounging around a pool.
Why You’ll Love This Mojito Recipe
When it comes to cocktail recipes I’m a pretty simple girl. I definitely gravitate toward easy-to-make, lower-sugar cocktails with few ingredients. And this mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is one such drink. Plus, it takes me back to soaking up the sun in Miami, Florida while on vacation – the place where I fell in love with mojitos! But let me tell you why making your own version at home can be so much better:
- You can make it a skinny mojito cocktail. White a traditional mojito uses granulated sugar (or simple syrup), I’m swapping in honey, and using half the amount traditionally used. Voila, a skinny version!
- You can use high-quality ingredients. I’m not a big drinker, but when I do have a cocktail I want it to be the best. So in today’s mojito recipe, I’m using high-quality liquor (see my tips below) and the freshest ingredients for an amazing taste!
Mint Mojito Recipe Ingredients
- Rum: White rum is the ideal choice for mojitos, but I’ll go into more detail below.
- Lime Juice: I highly recommend using fresh limes instead of packaged lime juice. In a cocktail recipe with few ingredients, the quality of the ingredients matters. And you’ll definitely notice a more vibrant flavor with fresh limes.
- Mint Leaves: Grab a handful of fresh mint leaves. You’ll muddle some (to infuse the mint aroma and taste into the cocktail) and add a few fresh sprigs for garnish.
- Club Soda: Just a splash is needed to give the drink extra sparkling fizz.
Which Rum Is Best For A Mojito?
An authentic mojito (as you’d find in Cuba) uses white rum. White or light rums have a sweet, subtle flavor, and dark rums that have been aged longer have a bolder flavor. My favorite rum is Bacardi Superior, also known as Bacardi Silver. It’s a white rum that’s high in quality and easy to find.
How To Make A Mojito
- Add the mint, honey, and lime juice to a glass. Add 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves to a highball or Collins glass. A glass in the 12-ounce to 14-ounce range is perfect. Then, add a teaspoon of honey and the juice from one lime (which equals two tablespoons of fresh lime juice).
- Muddle the mint leaves. Use a muddler to gently press on the mint leaves to help release their natural oils and aroma. A big mistake is over-muddling and breaking apart the mint leaves. Don’t do that as it creates little mint bits in your cocktail, which invariably get caught in your teeth and release the more bitter compounds from the mint leaves.
- Add the rum. Add 2 ounces of white rum, and use a cocktail spoon to stir everything together. Make sure the honey is fully dissolved in the lime juice and rum.
- Add the ice. Fill the glass with ice cubes until it’s nearly full, then top it off with club soda and a fresh sprig of mint.
Mojito Flavor Variations
- Strawberry Mint Mojito: You’ll keep the recipe as is, but add 3 fresh strawberries with all the ingredients at the first step. Then muddle it with the mint leaves to break up the strawberry and infuse the rum.
- Orange Mint Mojito: You’ll do the same as the strawberry mojito, but add half of an orange, sliced into wedges to make the muddling process easier.
More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
- Classic Margarita
- Red Sangria
- Aperol Spritz
- Strawberry Margarita
- Mango Margarita
- White Sangria with Mango and Berries
- Limoncello Spritz
I can’t wait for you to try this mint mojito! If you do, I’d love to hear about your experience with this recipe in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.
Mojito Recipe
Description
Video
Equipment
- Cocktail Jigger Use the large side for this recipe.
- Bar Spoon & Muddler Love that this is a combination tool!
Ingredients
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 ounces white rum
- club soda
Instructions
- Muddle together. Add the mint leaves, honey and lime juice to a highball or collins glass. Use a muddler to gently muddle the mint leaves, but don't muddle too much as you don't want to break the leaves up.
- Add the rum and ice. Pour in the rum, then fill the glass ⅔ of the way full with ice.
- Finish it off. Top it off with club soda, add a sprig of fresh mint, and enjoy!
Lisa’s Tips
- I use one teaspoon of honey in this recipe (a traditional mojito calls for about 2 teaspoons of sugar) – so half the sugar. But you can use more or less depending on how sweet you like your cocktails.
- The larger end of a cocktail jigger can range from 1.5-2 ounces. This one I use is 2 ounces.
- I love this muddler + cocktail spoon combination as it saves space in your kitchen.
- I also recommend these stainless steel straws (shown above) or glass straws.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published August 2018, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
Don’t forget the Mojito’s big Brazilian sister: Caipirinha!
I make this recipe on a regular basis. It’s my go-to cocktail. Thanks for sharing it!
Glad you enjoyed this mojito recipe!
I love a good mojito to spend a leisurely Sunday brunch. And it’s a great use of my homegrown mint. :)
Hi Anita – Most definitely a refreshing cocktail for brunch :)
This is so refreshing with the fresh mint – delicious!
Definitely one of my favorite refreshing cocktails to enjoy!
Mmm, a mojito is my favorite cocktail. Can’t wait until it’s warm enough to make one of these and sit out at my cabin soon! Wonderful idea swapping out the sugar for honey.
Made this and it was really good. Perfect for the weather in Thailand where I live!!!
So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe all the way from Thailand!
I could use one of these right about now! Looks great, thank you for sharing. Saving to make this weekend :)
Enjoy this classic recipe Noelle :)
Great recipe. Shall use it next week at at a Top Hat Microsoft function in Redmond Wa State.
Thanks, John! Glad you liked the mojito recipe! If everyone likes the recipe at the function, give me a shout out! ;)
I used agave nectar and Cachaca because that’s what I had on hand. I added a couple of ripe strawberries. Woo Hoo – great drink !!
Sounds perfect! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe Jeanie!
I absolutely Love mojitos! I made this to your measurements but for me it was too sour and not sweet enough so I did 3 teaspoons of organic agave. (My honey is pure from uncle’s bees and over sugared.) And added a bit more soda water after a few sips. So on next drink I will do half a lime and see how that tastes. Otherwise it’s amazing! Best recipe so far.
That sounds perfect Luda! I’m glad you were able to tweak the recipe to your liking. :)
Love the idea of this fresh cocktail! Just have to say your blog/vlog have completely changed my eating!
I’m loving all of your gluten-free recipes:)
Thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
That’s so wonderful to hear Karen! And thanks so much for the birthday wishes. I truly appreciate it! xo
What a gorgeous looking drink, it looks very refreshing! I love that you have kept the sugar down and added honey instead giving this classic cocktail a healthier twist.
Yes, honey is a great and simple swap! Enjoy!
Love a good classic mojito recipe!!! So refreshing!
A few staple cocktail recipes are always key! ;)
This certainly does look refreshing! Love that it’s a lower sugar version by using honey!
Yes! Honey is a great sub and you can easily control the amount.
absolutely love it,favourite cocktail.easy to make and taste very refreshing.can’t wait to give it a try.thanks for the recp.
Hope you enjoy!
So love your use of honey in this mojito instead of simple syrup/sugar. Gorgeous photos too!
Thanks so much! And yes, the honey is a great swap and so easy!
I pinned this for later. I love the replacement of the simple syrup with the honey. I also love the tip about not over muddling, because now I realize I always do. I’m on my way to making the best mojito ever.
I think over muddling is something we’re probably all guilty of doing. Haha! But now you’re next mojito will be the best one yet! ;) x
Happy Birthday!
The spoon masher thing is great. The recipe sounds very good.
Oddly, I am headed to visit Cuba.
I hit 50 myself the first part of September. I remember when 50 was old…
Thanks so much Glenn! Have a wonderful time in Cuba! And 50 is definitely the new 30, so you’re good to go. ;)
Going to have to try this one. Hope you have a great bday week.
Thanks so much Chris! And I hope you enjoy the mojito. :)
Wishing you LOTS of celebratory moments for your birthday this year!!! :)
Thanks so much Liz! I truly appreciate it! xo