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Mojito Recipe

May 15, 2024

With lots of fresh mint, lime, sparkling water and a pour of rum, our easy mojito recipe meets all your summer cocktail needs.

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2 Mojitos over ice made with lime juice, sugar, mint, rum and soda water garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge
Photography by Gayle McLeod

Our Go-To Mojito Recipe

If you can’t make it to Cuba, the birthplace of the mojito, this easy mojito recipe will get you close (at least vibe-wise) with just five simple ingredients. A mojito truly is the easiest classic cocktail to make at home, and our mojito recipe is so quick and easy, all you need is mint, lime, seltzer and rum. To make it, take a cue from our favorite bartender, who recommends smacking the fresh mint against the palm of your hand to release its aroma (and also for fun!). For more summery cocktail goodness, try a classic Moscow Mule or Mint Julep.

a bottle of rum, glass of ice, lime juice, sugar, mint and lime wedges in bowls and a muddler to make a mojito

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 your trusty local liquor store folks what they recommend based on your budget, but Plantation Rum and Havana Club are two of our go-to 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.

  • Sugar. Some people use simple syrup, but we’re 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

lime juice being poured into a glass with sugar and mint leaves in it to make a mojito
mint leaves, sugar and lime juice being muddled in a glass to make a mojito
rum being poured into a glass with lime juice, sugar, and muddled mint to make a mojito
soda water being poured into a mojito with ice to top it off

How To Make Mojitos

  1. Slice and juice the limes. We love our citrus press for making cocktails, and a jigger is helpful, too.

  2. 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.

  3. Add the rum and rest of the lime juice.

  4. Top with ice! Lots of it — a mojito is supposed to be icy and refreshing.

A mojito over ice made with lime juice,  sugar, mint, rum and soda water garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge
2 Mojitos over ice made with lime juice,  sugar, mint, rum and soda water garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge

Tips For Making The Best Mojito

  • To get the most out of your limes, have them at room temperature and 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.

2 Mojitos over ice made with lime juice, sugar, mint, rum and soda water garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge

Cheers To Another Round

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Mojito Recipe

  • Serves:  1
  • Prep Time:  5 min
  • Cook Time:  0 min
  • Calories:  158

Ingredients

  • 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 10 fresh mint leaves
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 2 ounces silver rum
  • Soda water
  • Mint sprig, for serving
  • Lime wedge, for serving

Method

  1. In a highball glass, muddle the sugar, mint, and half of the lime juice.

    mint leaves, sugar and lime juice being muddled in a glass to make a mojito
  2. Add the rum and remaining lime juice to the glass. Fill the glass with ice and top off with soda water, then stir.

    rum being poured into a glass with lime juice, sugar, and muddled mint to make a mojito
  3. Serve with the sprig of mint and lime wedge.

    2 Mojitos over ice made with lime juice,  sugar, mint, rum and soda water garnished with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 158
  • Protein 0 g
  • Carbohydrates 11 g
  • Total Fat 0 g
  • Dietary Fiber 0 g
  • Cholesterol 0 mg
  • sodium 16 mg
  • Total Sugars 4 g

Mojito Recipe

Questions & Reviews

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  • Jenn

    So refreshing and really simple. Love this recipe!

    Thank you Jenn, so glad you enjoyed it!