A Mojito is one of my favorite cocktails. This much-loved Cuban cocktail is perfect for when it is hot. This is a completely refreshing drink you are going to love.
Mojitos are one of my favorite cocktails. A mojito cocktail is so simple to make, but I have had some mojitos that I have sent back in very well-known bars. It shouldn’t be a mystery to make a really good cocktail, but obviously, sometimes it is!
You can make an outstanding mojito cocktail at home without having graduated from the Coyote Ugly School of Bartending!
Living in Houston, the summers are brutal and you want a cocktail that is going to be refreshing and light. Mojitos fill the bill.
If you have never had a mojito, it is a refreshing drink made with fresh mint, rum, lime, and ice. The mint and the lime should be very fresh, and the rum should be your favorite quality light rum.
If you are looking for a way to cool off, a mojito is one of the best ways to go.
A Brief History of the Mojito
As is often the case with cocktails, there are various ideas of where and how the cocktail came about, including:
Slaves who worked in the Cuban sugar cane fields made the drink from a simple sugar cane alcohol named Aguardiente de cana which translates as firewater of the sugar cane They gave the drink the name mojito which means to place a little spell.
In the 1500s, Sir Francis Drake arrived in Havana looking for gold. His crew members were debilitated by scurvy and dysentery. Local natives supplied ingredients for an effective tonic; aguardiente de cana, mint leaves, and the juices from sugar cane and limes.
La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Cuba claims to be the birthplace of the mojito and still enjoys the fame that comes from the likely myth that the mojito was Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite cocktail.
Here are some 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 Mojitos
A muddler and a spoon for stirring are the only bartending tools necessary. In a matter of minutes, you’ll have one of the freshest cocktail drinks imaginable. If you don’t have a muddler, click here to learn about them.
This recipe is from my friend Lee who dutifully tends bar when he and his wife throw pool parties. I always associate mojitos with a carefree summer and socializing by a pool.
There have been bartending classes, and much sampling across the US to find the perfect mojito, but I think you have it right here – the best mojito recipe. Let me know how you get along with this mojito.
Enjoy summer cocktails? Here are a few heat quenching summertime cocktails.
- Classic Godfather Cocktail
- Soggy Dollar Bar Painkiller
- Joes Crab Shack Secret Passion Punch
- TGI Friday’s Sex on the Beach
- Harry’s Bar Bellini
Classic Mojito Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Simple Syrup
- 2 ounces club soda
- 2 ounces white rum
- 5-6 fresh peppermint leaves
- 2 pieces of fresh lime
Simple Syrup
- 2 cups sugar super fine sugar is ideal
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Simple Syrup
- In a small pot over medium heat, heat the water up to almost boiling.
- Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Store homemade simple syrup in the refrigerator.
Mojito Instructions
- In a mixing glass, pour the juice from the lime over the mint. Muddle the mint but don’t overdo it. Place the squeezed lime parts into a serving (drinking) glass.
- In a measuring glass, add the club soda. Pour the rum and simple syrup on top. Pour the mix into the mixing glass and stir all the ingredients together. Next, pour the contents of the mixing glass into the serving glass.
- Top off the serving glass with ice, and garnish with a sprig or two of mint. Before placing the mint into the glass, slap it between your hands to release the mint oils.
HoustonFit says
This drink is good for summer heat.
Plau_12 says
Thanx for the post!! My way isThe Cuban stile is with brown
Sugar and plain soda and leave it to settle few mins and mint,
Crushed ice and dark rum 😉 Laura gg
stephaniemanley says
Oh I bet this makes for a tasty drink. I will try one with some brown sugar soon.
Alisa says
love this! I always seem to associate mojitos with having a carefree summer. Great recipe!
NeeNee says
Love Mojitos! We’ve made it even simpler…around our area we have a soda called Tom Tucker’s Mint Ginger Ale…we use this with the white rum, crushed fresh mint and fresh lime…very refreshing!
Rainbow says
Whoa! What an awesome recipe! Looks great.
Printfiend says
Nice blog!
Paperhead says
Thanks for post. Looks great..
Jim says
Great Latkes!!!!