Crisp and sour, slightly sweet, and always fragrant, the classic mojito is a classic cocktail that you never get tired of drinking.
I have been a mojito fan for some time now. I first tried mojitos about 15 years ago while on a camping trip with some family. Our friend Tony made a mojito and I was hooked.
(Yes, it’s Tony, the same guy who introduced us to the crazy delicious slow-cooker baked beans recipe and Italian cream liqueur.)
We’ve tried quite a few mojito recipes over the years. I will always return.
classic mojito
Add a refreshing club soda to bring summer into your glass. This cocktail recipe is perfect for drinking at a garden party or relaxing on the porch with friends on a warm summer evening.
And having lived in one of the hottest cities in the United States for a very long time, I’ve grown to love this drink all year round.
I warn you that if you start making your own mojitos at home, they won’t be as satisfying as other people’s mojitos. She makes absolutely amazing mojitos.
You can check Holly’s recipe here, if you want to try her version. You may notice that our recipes are almost identical. (Maybe that’s why I love her!) Great minds who love mojitos clearly think similarly.
mojito ingredients
The classic mojito is elegant yet simple. I’ve put together some of my all-time favorite drink ingredients into a simple, much-loved cocktail.
What’s inside a mojito? Lime juice, lots of fresh mint, rum, simple syrup and club soda.
White rum is the perfect rum for mojitos. Light rum can also be used, but avoid flavored rum so as not to overpower the other flavors you add to your drink. A medium-sized rum is perfect for a pitcher of mojitos.
The bright, tart citrus flavor of the perfect mojito is enhanced with freshly squeezed lime juice. A pitcher of mojitos uses at least 1 scoop of lime juice (equivalent to roughly 9 or 10 limes, depending on how much juice you get).
We highly recommend slicing and squeezing your own limes with a handheld juicer for the best flavor. It’s worth the little effort.
What Makes Mojitos Unique? A lot of fresh mint. A refreshing cocktail with fragrant and slightly spicy mint leaves. Even my friend who doesn’t really like mint enjoys this drink. Lime and mint complement each other.
A simple syrup is a simple mixture of sugar dissolved in water that adds the perfect amount of sweetness to your mojito.
Sweeten your cocktail with a simple syrup and you won’t be left with gritty sugar clumps at the bottom of your glass. All sugar granules are dissolved and fully incorporated into the rest of the drink.
Finally, a splash of frothy club soda brings the whole drink together.
Want some non-secret tips for making the perfect mojito? When serving your mojito, top off the last glass with a generous glass of club soda. The frothy club soda gives this cocktail a light, refreshing summer flavor that makes it super easy to drink and enjoy.
Mojito Pitcher Recipe
The recipe presented here is a classic mojito pitcher. His one of these small pitchers can be shared between two to four of him, depending on how much drink you pour and how much club soda you add to your glass.
If you don’t have simple syrup on hand, make a batch before mixing in the other mojito ingredients. To quickly make a simple syrup, fill a jar half full of water and add half a cup of sugar. Close the jar and shake vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved (a few minutes).
A mojito begins by mixing lime juice and mint leaves in the bottom of a pitcher or glass. This step allows the lime and mint flavors to mix.I usually use this muddler (best ever!) and this pitcher to make this recipe.
Then add the rum and simple syrup to the lime and mint and fill the pitcher 2/3 full with ice. Chill in the refrigerator until the mojito is ready to pour.
If you don’t like crushed mint leaves in your drink, simply pour the drink into each glass through a small strainer. I do this most of the time when I have guests.
When serving drinks, fill each glass about halfway with ice, then add mojito mix until the glass is about 2/3 full. Fill the glass with club soda. A garnish of mint leaves and lime wedges is a nice accent!
If you’ve ever had a mojito in my house, I probably made the recipe with lesser amounts of simple syrup and rum. I like it. That way everyone can enjoy the drink the way they like it.
Still, the recipe below is my standard “base” for making mojitos.
You can easily double the crowd recipe if you have a large pitcher.
Virgin Mojito Recipe
oh! And before we forget, these mojitos are wonderfully refreshing for all ages, even though they’re alcohol-free.
When serving mojitos at gatherings, I often make a pitcher of rum and no alcohol for everyone to enjoy. Every time he mixes one of these rum-free pitchers for a friend, someone asks for the recipe.
Making the perfect non-alcoholic mojito is super easy: just follow the recipe as usual and skip the alcohol! No other adjustments are required.
Looking for more rum cocktail recipes? You can’t go wrong with the Classic Mai Tai.For something a little odd, this pomegranate rum cocktail looks divine.
And in the winter, there’s nothing quite like a mug of hot butter rum.
Can’t get enough mojito recipes in your life? try mango mojito by Crazy For Crust strawberry mojito slushy little kitchen, champagne mojito Foodie Crush or these summer cherry limeade mojito by Noshery.
You’ll be in mojito heaven all year round!
{First published 9/20/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/22/23}
