Classic Mojito

Image of a Classic Mojito Cocktail sititng on a tableThe Classic Mojito is one of the world’s most popular cocktails. It’s a simple drink of rum, mint, lime, sugar, and club soda, that is muddled and stirred. Muddling mojitos require a tiny bit of elbow grease but are easy to make from scratch and come together in just a few minutes.

Mojitos originated in Cuba, possibly derived from a 16th-century medicinal tonic known as El Draque (named after Sir Francis Drake). They are a favorite summertime beverage.

The mint and lime give it a cool, refreshing flavor, and the soda lightens it up with a fizzy crispness. There are many ways that you can riff on the flavor of the basic recipe, which makes it a creative cocktail. Our recipe is a great start.

The Classic Mojito
Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients
2 teaspoons superfine sugar
6 to 8 fresh spearmint mint leaves
2 to 3 ounces club soda, divided, to taste
1 lime cut in half
2 ounces white rum
Mint sprig, for garnish

Directions
Add the sugar, mint leaves, and a splash of the club soda to a highball glass. Muddle the ingredients just enough to dissolve the sugar and release the flavor of the mint.

Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass. Drop 1 of the squeezed-out halves into the bottom of the glass. Add the rum and stir well. Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with club soda.

Garnish with a mint sprig and lime slice, and serve immediately.

Variations

  • Switch up the sweeteners for coconut sugar or honey syrup.
  • Add a splash of a fruit-flavored soda or seltzer instead of the club soda.
  • Muddle in additional fruits that go well with lime, like raspberries, strawberries, mango, peach, or pomegranate seeds.
  • Or check out our recipe for a Watermelon Mojito.
  • And, there is always a mocktail version where you skip the rum altogether.

 

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