Classic Cuban Mojito Recipe

When the temperature rises and you need something cool and refreshing, nothing beats the crisp, clean taste of a perfectly crafted Cuban mojito. This beloved cocktail combines the bright zing of fresh lime with aromatic mint leaves and smooth white rum, creating a drink that transports you straight to the sun-soaked beaches of Havana with every sip.

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What is a Mojito?

When it comes to Caribbean cocktails, skip the overly sweet drinks with umbrellas and multiple straws. Instead, mix yourself one of the classiest cocktails around: the mojito. With a history stretching back hundreds of years to the age of the legendary explorer Francis Drake, the modern mojito recipe combines tart, fresh lime juice with sweet, simple syrup, brightened with fragrant mint leaves and given its signature kick with a generous pour of white rum.

What Makes a Mojito So Good 

The magic of a mojito lies in its perfect balance of flavors and textures. The gentle muddling of mint releases essential oils without creating bitterness, while the simple syrup provides consistent sweetness that dissolves perfectly into the cold drink. Fresh lime juice adds the essential tartness that brightens every sip, and club soda creates the refreshing effervescence that makes this cocktail so thirst-quenching.

Mojito Ingredients

For the Simple Syrup:

• Superfine sugar or granulated sugar – Creates the sweet base that balances the tart lime and provides a smooth texture
• Water – Combines with sugar to create the perfect sweetening agent for cocktails

For the Mojito:

• Simple syrup – Provides consistent sweetness that dissolves completely in cold drinks
• Club soda – Adds refreshing carbonation and lightens the drink’s overall intensity
• White rum – Delivers the cocktail’s signature spirit base with clean, neutral flavor
• Fresh mint leaves – Contribute aromatic oils and a cooling sensation when properly muddled
• Fresh lime slices – Provide essential citrus acidity that brightens all other flavors

What kind of rum for a Mojito? 

Inexpensive white rum is the perfect choice for adding to a Mojito cocktail recipe. Save your premium brands for another day.

You can undoubtedly use what you have on hand, but if you are buying a new bottle specifically for this best Mojito recipe, you won’t go wrong by picking up one of the following brands:

• Bacardi Superior. It’s cheap, and it’s good. There’s no shame in mixing up a mojito with this old standby. The rum’s mild sweetness and almost floral flavor go incredibly well with lime juice. 
• The Real McCoy 3-Year Old. This aged rum has a bit more complexity than Bacardi Superior, with its subtle buttery caramel flavor and citrus undertones. It is 100 percent sugar-free, and you can find it for just a few dollars more than Bacardi Superior.
• Don Q Rum Cristal. If you are looking for a smooth rum without any bite, Don Q Rum Cristal might be your rum of choice. The manufacturer prides itself on creating a rum with strong vodka-like flavors and neutral notes. If you are a vodka drinker, you’ll appreciate this rum. 

Equipment Needed

You will need a few bartending tools to make this mojito recipe:

• Cocktail Muddler
• Cocktail Stirrer Spoon
• Measuring Glass

In a matter of minutes, you’ll have one of the freshest cocktail drinks imaginable. If you don’t have a muddler or know what one is, you can learn about muddlers.

How to Make a Mojito

There are two key components to making an excellent mojito. The first part is to make a thick, simple syrup for sweetening the drink. The second part is to make the cocktail by perfectly layering in the flavors for the ultimate mojito.

To make this version of simple syrup:

1. In a small saucepan, combine two cups of sugar and one cup of water. 
2. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir continuously.
3. Dissolve the sugar and allow the syrup to thicken slightly.
4. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The simple sugar syrup should last in the fridge for up to six months. 

To make the mint mojito drink:

1. Place the mint leaves on the bottom of a mixing glass. Squeeze the juice of one lime wedge into the glass.
2. Crush the mint leaves using a muddler but don’t overdo it.
3. Place the squeezed lime pieces into a separate serving (drinking) glass.
4. Pour the club soda into a measuring glass.

5. Add the rum and simple syrup to the measuring glass.
6. Pour the rum mixture into the mixing glass and stir all the ingredients together.
7. Pour the contents of the mixing glass into the serving glass (you can use either a rocks glass or a collins glass) filled with lime wedges and ice, and give it a light stir.
8. Garnish the Mojito with a sprig of mint and serve immediately.

How to Make Mojitos Ahead of Time 

You can make the simple syrup ahead of time, but bruised mint leaves turn black quickly, so it’s not a good idea to prepare individual servings in advance.

Are you serving a crowd? Read below to find out how to make multiple servings of the best Mojito recipe at once. 

Classic Mojito Recipes Variations

The sky is the limit when it comes to riffing on the classic mint Mojito. Here are three simple variations you can try:

• Strawberry Mojito. Follow the general recipe above, but muddle four strawberries and a splash of Crème de Fraise des Bois along with the mint leaves. 
• Darkside Mojito. Use dark rum instead of white rum in the recipe, but don’t use spiced rum. Make the simple syrup with dark brown sugar.
• South-of-the-Border Mojito. Replace the rum with light tequila and use agave syrup instead of simple syrup. 

How to Muddle Fresh Mint 

Muddling is a fancy word for lightly bruising the mint leaves to help release some of the oils into the cocktail. Most people use a muddler, like an OXO Steel Muddler, but if you don’t have one, you can use the end of the handle side of a wooden spoon or even the outside bowl of a spoon.

The key is to use light pressure to break up the outer layers of leaves. You don’t want to tear the mint leaves into shreds. 

Tips to Make the Perfect Mojito

• Use a build glass. When you pour alcohol and mixers directly into a glass, you’re building a cocktail.
• Pour the lime juice over the mint when you muddle the lime.
• Don’t muddle the mint too much.
• Use a simple syrup.
• Instead of adding the club soda as a float, put it in the bottom of the mixing glass and pour the other ingredients on top.
• Always slap the mint before adding as a garnish. This releases the mint oils.

How to Make a Whole Pitcher of Mojitos 

You can scale this recipe up to make an entire pitcher of Mojitos:

1. Combine 50 mint leaves and the juice of one lime in a pitcher.
2. Muddle the mint leaves.
3. Add 16 ounces of simple syrup to the pitcher. Stir to combine.
4. Pour in 16 ounces of club water and stir gently.
5. Prepare each serving glass as above. 

What to Serve with Mojitos

Here are some great snacks to enjoy while sipping on a refreshing Cuban mojito:

• Avocado Fries
• Cheetos Popcorn
• Ranch Pretzels

Enjoy summer cocktails? Try these!

• Berry Sangria
• Blue Hawaiian
• Fuzzy Navel
• Italian Margarita
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Mai Tai Cocktail
• Pain Killer Cocktail
• Rum Punch
• Spiked Kool-Aid
• Watermelon Margarita

Check out more of my easy cocktail recipes and the best summer recipes here on CopyKat!