Mojito

published Jul 5, 2024
summer
angled shot of two mojitos garnished with crushed ice and mint
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

As refreshing as it gets.

Serves1

Prep5 minutes

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angled shot of two mojitos garnished with crushed ice and mint
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Some ingredients are just more refreshing than others. Mint, lime, and cold club soda are all things I’d call extremely refreshing. So when you put them together with some white rum and pour it over a glass of crushed ice, you get a pretty perfect summer cocktail. That’s why I assume the mojito was invented.

Because mojitos are so simple, the difference between a mojito and a meh-jito comes down to the quality of ingredients. Keep the lime juice fresh-squeezed, the club soda chilled, the rum clear (no spiced rum here!), and the mint fresh and vibrant. Do that, and you’re guaranteed to have a refreshing, delicious time.

Why You’ll Love It

  • It’s extra-refreshing. Fresh-squeezed lime juice and cooling mint, along with a generous heap of crushed ice, make this an ideal cocktail to combat the summer heat.
  • It’s not too strong. Adding an adjustable amount of club soda keeps this drink from being too boozy and lets you customize to your taste.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: Rachel Perlmutter

Key Ingredients in a Mojito

  • Rum: Use white rum (also called silver or light rum) to keep this cocktail light and refreshing.
  • Mint: Muddled fresh mint makes the cocktail extra-cooling and light.
  • Lime: Freshly squeezed lime juice ensures a perfectly balanced cocktail.
  • Simple syrup: This homemade ingredient adds a delicate sweetness. 
  • Club soda: Top off the drink with some bubbles.

How to Make a Mojito

  1. Muddle the mint. Gently muddle fresh mint leaves in a cocktail shaker.
  2. Shake the ingredients. To the cocktail shaker, add lime juice, white rum, and simple syrup. Fill with ice, seal, and shake until very frosty. 
  3. Strain and enjoy. Fill a cocktail glass with fresh mint leaves and crushed ice. Pour the cocktail through a fine-mesh strainer, top with sparkling water, and garnish with a lime slice.

Helpful Swaps

  • For the simple syrup, you can substitute agave syrup thinned out with a little water.
  • Muddle some berries with the mint for a berry mojito.
  • Swap the rum for Calvados (apple brandy) for a slightly fruity note.
  • Add or swap fresh basil leaves for the mint.

More Mojito Recipes

Mojito Recipe

As refreshing as it gets.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    medium lime

  • 10

    fresh mint leaves, divided

  • Ice

  • 1 1/2 ounces

    white rum

  • 3/4 ounce

    simple syrup

  • Ice, preferably crushed ice

  • 2 to 4 ounces

    club soda, preferably chilled

Instructions

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  1. Cut 1 round from the center of 1 medium lime and reserve for garnish. Juice the remaining lime until you have 3/4 ounce.

  2. Place 5 fresh mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle gently with a muddler or wooden spoon. Add the lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces white rum, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds.

  3. Slap or twist the remaining 5 fresh mint leaves and place in a Collins or highball glass. Fill the glass with ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Top with 2 to 4 ounces of club soda (to fill the glass) and garnish with the lime wheel.

Recipe Notes

Substitutions: You can use a combination of 1/2 ounce agave syrup and 1/4 ounce water in place of simple syrup.