This easy mojito recipe is crisp, refreshing, and perfectly sweet. It’s the perfect cocktail for hot summer days and happy hour at home on the patio.
The mojito is a traditional Cuban punch that consists of white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint. It’s the perfect balance of sweetness from the rum and sugar, tartness from the lime juice, and aromatics from the fresh mint leaves.
Jenna's tasting notes
- Bubbly: I love a citrus forward, fizzy cocktail! If you do too, this recipe is for you.
- Fresh: By using just a handful of simple ingredients you can really taste what each has to offer.
- Adaptable: If you want to mix things up, keep the base recipe the same and add your favorite fresh fruit juice or fresh fruit. Some popular mojito variations are pineapple, strawberry, mango, watermelon, blueberry and cucumber.
Ingredients
A mojito cocktail comes together with just a handful of fresh ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card for measurements.
- Rum: Use good quality aged light rum. Dark rum has a more intense flavor that can be too overpowering in this cocktail. If you're looking for another rum cocktail, my rum collins is a twist on the classic cocktail. It's light, effervescent, and easy to make.
- Simple syrup: I typically prefer using simple syrup in my cocktails rather than granulated sugar or powdered sugar. Using homemade or store-bought simple syrup ensures a smooth drink with no sugar granules floating around.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice is best! I suggest using this citrus squeezer to get every last drop.
- Fresh mint: In Cuba, they use yerba buena in their mojitos. Outside of Cuba, it’s common to use spearmint. You can easily find this in the produce section of most grocery stores.
- Sparkling water: If you’re making a traditional mojito, you’ll want to use soda water. It’s common to have a mojito using club soda, seltzer, or sparkling water. I use sparkling water because that's what I always have on hand.
How to make simple syrup
The simple syrup ratio is 1:1, equal parts water to granulated sugar. Here's how to make it at home:
- In a small saucepan, heat the water over medium heat.
- Add the sugar and stir to combine.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat.
- Let cool before using then store in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.
Home bar tips
- You can use ice cubes or crushed ice depending on your preference. The original Cuban mint mojitos are served with cubed ice and are less watered down. I personally like using crushed ice to dilute the strong flavors. The choice is yours!
- If you don’t have a cocktail muddler, use the bottom of a wooden spoon to muddle. The mint leaves should only be bruised to release their natural oils.
- Serve your mojito in a tall glass, such as a collins glass or highball glass.
- Garnish your mojito with a mint sprig. Make sure you have plenty of fresh mint to use both in the cocktail and to garnish.
Recommended tools
For making the best mojito, I highly suggest using a cocktail mixing glass, cocktail muddler and bar spoon. Here are the exact products I use!
Related recipes
Want more homemade refreshing cocktails? Try these next:
It takes just minutes to muddle some mint with lime juice, simple syrup, and rum. I hope you love this classic mojito cocktail recipe as much as we do!
Classic Mojito Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup to taste
- Ice
- Club soda or sparkling water
Instructions
- Add fresh mint leaves, rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to a highball or tall glass. Gently muddle the mint to release its oils.
- Fill the glass with ice and top with club soda or sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Nutrition
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