Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Classic Mint Mojito Recipe
Summer is upon us, which means it’s patio sipping season. While there are lots of tasty cocktails out there, it’s hard to beat a deliciously refreshing Classic Mint Mojito recipe! Made with just 6 ingredients in less than 5 minutes, your happy hour at home will never be far from reach.
What is a Mojito?
Mojitos are a traditional Cuban rum cocktail served in a highball glass or a fun hurricane glass. The combination of fresh bright lime juice, herbaceous mint, and bubbly effervescence makes them irresistible on a hot summer day. Prepare yourself; you won’t be able to stop at just one!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Mojito Recipe
Typically made with just white rum, fresh mint (yerba buena), lime, sugar, and club soda, the classic mint mojito is a simple cocktail that even novice bartenders can easily make at home.
My recipe is *slightly* different than some, as it calls for both regular granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Why? Many cocktail purists will claim that muddling the fresh mint and lime with sugar is an essential part of building mojito flavor. Others argue that simple syrup is the only way to ensure that the cocktail isn’t overrun with undissolved sugar crystals.
My solution? Using regular sugar to muddle accomplishes what the purists want, and using powdered sugar means the sweetness easily dissolves into the cold liquid — all without having to dirty a pot to make simple syrup. I call that a win-win!
Ingredients & Equipment
You don’t need much to make this easy mojito recipe at home. Here’s your list:
- White Rum – Using unaged white rum is key to keeping your mojito refreshing. Be sure you don’t confuse it with coconut rum — the end result will be far too sweet! Or want a Mexican twist — try tequila blanco!
- Fresh Mint Leaves – If you want to get super authentic here, reach for Mojito Mint (a.k.a. mentha x villosa), a mild mint variety native to Cuba. Otherwise, spearmint is probably your best bet. Feel free to use any variety you have on hand, though!
- Fresh Limes – Fresh is key here! Don’t try swapping in bottled lime juice, or you’ll risk some serious disappointment.
- Sugar & Powdered Sugar – If you’re going for authenticity above all else, I suggest reaching for superfine sugar, plus easily dissolvable powdered sugar for your muddling.
- Club Soda – Sparkling mineral water will work just as well!
- Ice – Be sure to use filtered water for the best flavor here. If you like your ice crushed but don’t have an ice machine that makes it, simply add big cubes to a zip-top bag and bash the heck out of it with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer!
- Highball or Hurricane Glass – I find that using fancy glasses is the easiest way to replicate the special feeling of a night on the town. Any glass will do here, but I suggest one that will make you feel fancy!
- Muddler – If you don’t have a muddler, you can use the handle of a wooden spoon instead.
- Bar Spoon – A regular dinner knife will be long enough to get to the bottom of your highball if you don’t have a bar spoon on hand.
How To Make Classic Mint Mojitos
Step 1: Muddle. Place the mint leaves in a highball glass and add the lime juice and sugars and gently muddle: press down on the mint leaves, lime juice, and sugars with a wooden spoon or muddler.
Step 2: Layer & Stir. After muddling add crushed ice and rum, and top off with club soda. Gently stir with bar spoon to pull the oils and sugar up from the bottom of the glass.
Step 3: Garnish & Enjoy. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig. Salud!
Optional Variations
Classic mint mojitos will always have my heart. They’re simply divine! That said, there’s a lot of room for mixing things up. Here are some of my favorite variations:
Expert Tips
- Muddle gently. The purpose of muddling is to release the essential oils from the mint leaves, but you don’t need to hulk out on it! You don’t want shredded leaves floating around in the drink and getting stuck between your teeth—so muddle without mangling.
- Stir, don’t shake. The bright, fresh flavors of a classic mojito are somewhat delicate. Be sure to stir the cocktail instead of shaking it in order to prevent too much dilution.
- Keep your mint plant in a container. Mint is one of the easiest things to grow, in part because it spreads like wildfire! Be sure to keep it in a container, or risk your entire garden becoming a mojito garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
While it wouldn’t be a classic mojito, per se, there’s no law against swapping in another spirit if it suits you! If you go the tequila route, I suggest using blanco to keep a lighter flavor profile.
Absolutely! Simply replace the rum with more club soda for a delightfully refreshing virgin summer sipper known as a “No-jito.” Cute, right?
My personal favorite way to store mint is the same way I store cilantro: make a fresh cut to the bottom stems, then place it in a glass of water like a little bouquet. Cover with the plastic bag it came in, then pop it in the fridge! It’ll often last for a week or more this way. You can also wrap it in damp paper towels, then keep it in a bag or container for 2-3 days.
Did you try my Classic Mint Mojito recipe? Let me know how it turned out by rating and commenting below. For more delicious recipe inspiration, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. You can also get all of my newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for my email newsletter.
Classic Mojito
Ingredients
- 12 mint leaves
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon super fine sugar
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 2 ounces white rum
- 2 to 3 ounces club soda, chilled
- 2 wedges lime, garnish
- Mint sprig, garnish
Instructions
- Place the mint leaves in a highball glass and add the lime juice and sugars and gently muddle: press down on the mint leaves, lime juice, and sugars with a wooden spoon or muddler. Muddling releases the oils from the mint leaves. You don’t want shredded leaves floating around in the drink and getting stuck between your teeth—so muddle gently.
- After muddling add crushed ice and rum, and top off with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.
Notes
- Feel free to substitute the sugar with 1 ounce of simple syrup or agave nectar.
- Serve with a sugar cane swizzle stick or a wooden chopstick to keep the different flavors well blended.
- Make a No-Jito mocktail by replacing the rum with more club soda.
