Mojito Recipe

The best fresh mint mojitos are made by steeping crushed mint in sugar and rum. The simple mojito is a classic summer drink, perfect for sipping poolside or to take the heat from a hot city night.

It may be a simple cocktail, but there’s a lot to know about this humble beverage.

The Mojito complimenting summer perfectly with a fresh minty taste.

It requires a bit more labor than many mixed drinks, as it involves first muddling fresh mint, lime, and sugar together to release the flavors. But it’s well worth it for a refreshing, fizzy, and mildly sweet rum cocktail that remains one of the most popular to this day.

If you’re in the mood for a fun summer drink, this mint mojito recipe is just what you need! It’s refreshing, delicious, and super easy to make.

What You’ll Need to Make a Mojito

As with most cocktails, crafting mojitos requires a few special tools — namely, a muddler. This bartending tool is used to crush fresh herbs and fruits to help release their flavors. If you don’t have a muddler, use the end of a wooden spoon instead.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 10 fresh mint leaves.
  • ½ medium lime, cut into 3 wedges, divided.
  • ½ cup club soda, or as needed.
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste.
  • 1 cup ice cubes, or as needed.
  • 1 ½ fluid ounces of white rum.

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Mint Leaves and lime: Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler and crush to release mint oils and lime juice.
  2. Muddle Again: Add the remaining lime wedges and 2 tablespoons of sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture.
  3. Fill Glass with Ice and Soda: Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour in rum and fill the glass with club soda.
  4. Strain your mojito: Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker over a glass filled with ice. Top your glass with soda water, and garnish it with lime slices and more fresh mint sprigs.
  5. Garnish and serve: Garnish with lime slices and mint sprig. Enjoy! Firmly slap the mint sprig on the back of your hand before garnishing; this releases the oils to make the mint more aromatic.

NOTES

Tonic water can be used instead of club soda but the taste will be different and somewhat bitter.