My Go-To Mojito Recipe
If you can’t make it to Cuba IRL, this easy mojito recipe will get you darn close (at last vibe-wise). Icy, minty and fizzing with rum and fresh lime juice, a mojito is one of the easiest classic cocktails to mix up at home. No fancy equipment needed! Not even a shaker.
My favorite bartender taught me to smack the fresh mint (kind of THE defining ingredient of the mojito) against the palm of my hand to release its aroma before muddling. You don’t have to, but it’s a fun little mojito-making party trick. For more refreshing summer cocktail goodness, try a classic Moscow mule or mint julep.
Classic Mojito Ingredients
- Lots of fresh mint.
- White rum. The best rum for mojitos will depend on your budget and your tastes. It’s always a good idea to ask the folks at your favorite liquor store what they recommend based on your budget, but Plantation Rum and Havana Club are two of my go-to middle-shelf brands. If you’re in the mood for a splurge, you can make one of the best mojitos ever with Rhum J.M. Agricole.
- Limes. You’ll need about 1-2 fresh limes per mojito cocktail. Lime juice MUST be fresh.
- Sugar. Some people use simple syrup, but I am attached to the slightly rustic vibe of granulated sugar muddled into mint. It just feels like that’s what a mojito is supposed to taste like.
- Soda water
How To Make Mojitos
- Slice and juice the limes. I love my citrus press for making cocktails, and a jigger is helpful, too.
- Gently muddle the mint leaves in a highball glass with sugar and lime juice until crushed (but not shredded!) to release the essential oils. The rough sugar granules plus the acid of the lime juice also help to break down the mint leaves quickly and that triumvirate of flavor-rich goodness — minty heat, limey tang and sugar sweetness — melds quickly.
- Add the rum and rest of the lime juice.
- Top with ice! Lots of it! A mojito is supposed to be icy and refreshing.
- Fill with soda water to the brim, and give the drink a stir.
- Garnish: A lime wedge and a sprig of mint is nice. Serve!
Tips For Making The Best Mojito
- To get the most out of your limes, store them at room temperature and then roll them between your hand and the countertop before you cut and juice them.
- Granulated sugar vs. simple syrup. You’ll sometimes see a mojito recipe with simple syrup, this is often a shortcut for bartenders because it doesn’t require extra effort to dissolve the sugar. We like the texture of the sugar granules — it’s more authentic and we think it helps break down the mint faster, too.
- Serve your mojitos with plenty of snacks! 2 ounces of rum is a generous pour, so be sure that your guests are hydrating and snacking while they sip. Homemade chips and homemade salsa, watermelon salad or serrano mint kale salad would all make lovely snacks.
More Refreshing Drink Recipes To Try
Cheers To Another Round
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