An Easy And Refreshing Mojito Recipe
Rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and simple syrup are all you need to make this classic Mojito recipe. An absolutely thirst-quenching summer cocktail.
Ah, the Mojito, arguably summers most refreshing cocktail.
Maybe its the mint and lime or possibly the fizziness of the club soda. Whatever it is, this Mojito recipe is basically all I want on a hot summer evening. Especially now since my lime tree is finally producing big, fat, juicy limes!
On top of all that, the whole thing comes together right in the glass, which means one less cocktail shaker to wash! Yay!
Lets take a closer look at this classic Cuban cocktail.
What Kind Of Rum For 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 wont go wrong by picking up one of the following brands:
- Bacardi Superior. Its cheap, and its good. There is absolutely no shame in mixing up a Mojito drink with this old standby. In fact, the rums 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 going on than Bacardi Superior with its slight 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 vibes and neutral flavors. If you are a vodka drinker, youll appreciate this rum.
Where Does The Mojito Originate From
Mojitos originate from Cuba. While the actual origin story has been debated throughout history, this Cuban highball drink is said to be one of the islands oldest cocktails. It has experienced resurgences in popularity throughout history thanks to appearances in mainstream culture such as the James Bond film Die Another Day.
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The History Of The Great Mojito Cocktail
Mojito is a Cuban cocktail which there is lots of legends about. Exactly like many other classic craft cocktails. The mojito can be traced back to the 1600. It evolved from what back then was know as El Drague which consisted of aguardiente, mint, lime and sugar cane . This mix was popular because of the health benefits of the lime, mint and alcohol. Alcohol was known as medicine and more clean than water. Lime and mint was also known for helping prevent sickness. The sugar cane and the mix in general also tasted good and made you feel better. That is also important to remember.
How To Make A Batch Of Mojitos
Mojitos can easily be made in advance in large batches. Follow the same basic instructions, just scale the recipe up by multiplying the recipe by however many mojitos you’d like to serve.
For example, to prepare a batch large enough to make ten mojitos, use 20 ounces of rum, 20 teaspoons of sugar, the juice of 5 halved limes and around 100 mint leaves . This would make a cocktail mix of about 25 ounces.
Mix the sugar, mint, lime, and rum and muddle before storing. Keep the batch cool in the fridge until it’s time to serve. The mix can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
To serve, fill a glass glass with ice, then pour about ¾ of the cocktail mixture in. Top each glass off with the fresh soda water, stir to mix, and a mint spring for garnish and serve.
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Secret To A Better Mojito
Before now, you may have made mojitos like this: You threw some mint, lime juice, and sugar into a glass and then mashed em up with a wooden spoon, or if you were feeling bartender-y, with a fancy muddler. Then you added a little booze and a lot of soda water, resulting in a sparkling, mint salad in a glass with a hint of rum.
No more. Youre better than that, and your mojitos should be too! The better way to make mojitos takes a little more time, patience, and effort, but is well worth it.
Take a mortar and pestle and slowly crush the mint and sugar with a splash of the rum until you have a very fine paste. After that, add the rest of the rum and let it infuse for a few minutes, then strain the mixture, and top with a bare splash of soda.
The result is a mojito that’s not only cleaner in appearance , but also endlessly more flavorful than any mojito youve previously experienced.
How To Make Simple Syrup For Mojitos 6 Easy Steps
Whether making mojitos for a party or just mixing up a drink for yourself, simple syrup is a must. This easy-to-make syrup takes just minutes to put together and adds sweetness and flavor to any drink.
Plus, its perfect for cocktails with lots of fresh fruit. Mojitos are a favorite summer drink, but they can be expensive to buy pre-made at the store.
To keep your mojitos tasty all summer long, heres how to make simple syrup without breaking the bank. This recipe is easy to follow and only requires a few ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.
So next time youre craving a mojito, dont reach for your wallet grab a muddler and get started!
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How To Make A Mojito
Ready to learn how to make a mojito? Heres what you need to do:
First, muddle the mint. Place it in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and use a cocktail muddler to press it until it becomes aromatic. When youre muddling the mint, your goal isnt to pulverize it or crush it. Instead, just bruise it slightly to help it release its fragrant oils. This should only take a few taps with your muddler!
Second, shake! Add the rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice to the cocktail shaker, and shake it vigorously until the ingredients are completely combined and chilled.
Then, strain your mojito. Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker over a glass filled with ice. Top your glass with soda water, and garnish it with lime slices and more fresh mint sprigs.
Finally, taste and adjust. This step is essential anytime youre making a cocktail at home. It gives you a chance to customize your drink to your tastes, finding a balance of flavors you really love. If you prefer a tarter mojito, add an extra squeeze of lime juice. If you want it sweeter, stir in a bit more simple syrup. Not strong enough? Well, you know what to do.
Enjoy!
Tips For Making The Perfect Mojito
So, how do you make a mojito? Whether youre sticking to the classics or creating different mojito recipes, here are a few tips to crafting the perfect mojito.
- Always keep your basic proportions the same. Use 1 1/2 oz. white rum to 1/2 lime, or about 1 oz. lime juice, to achieve perfectly balanced flavors.
- Slap the mint leaves between your hands several times before placing them in the glass. This stimulates the oils and creates maximum flavor transfer to your cocktail.
- Avoid ripping or tearing mint leaves, as this can create a bitter taste in drinks.
- Muddle and shake your cocktail with care so as to avoid crushing or ripping your mint leaves and lime.
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Tips For The Best Mojitos
Here are a couple tips that Ive learned throughout the years of making my own mojitos at home.
- The key to this recipe is the added Mojito Simple Syrup. Do not skip it! It elevates the flavor to a whole new level!
- Serve it chilled. Mojitos that are served extra chilled and cold go down so much smoother. Just make sure you chill the simple syrup fully!
- Use a good quality rum! It makes all the difference to your final cocktail if you use a good quality white rum. There are so few ingredients in a mojito, make sure to use quality ones.
- Drinks always taste better with friends. Okay, so maybe this isnt really a tip but just one of those things that I think is true!
How To Make The Best Mojito
Youll find the full recipe below. Here are a few tips for best results:
Select sturdy, thick-bottomed glassware. Were mixing the drink in the glass and Ive never had any problems doing so. Treat it with care, though, and dont use Moms crystal.
Dont muddle excessively. Its tempting to muddle your mint into tiny pieces as you hope for maximally minty flavor. I know, Ive done it myself . In fact, your mojito will taste better if you dont overdo it, and the texture will be more enjoyable without tons of tiny mint bits floating around.
Adjust to taste. The recipe as written yields my ideal mojito, but please tweak it to suit your taste buds. Use a little less rum for a less boozy sipper. Add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter drink . Or, omit the sugar entirely for a no-sugar cocktail .
Gently smack your mint garnish before using. You think Im kidding? Nope! Were going to save one beautiful sprig of mint to garnish our drink. As a final touch, gently clap it between your hands to release some of those fragrant mint oils. Then, slide it into your drink with the top of the sprig staying above the surface. The fragrance will make your drink taste even more gloriously minty.
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What Is A Mojito
Mojitos are a cocktail from Havana, Cuba. At the time, Cuban rum was not what it is today. It was not smooth and was hard to enjoy on its own. Thus, the Mojito was created! With a little sugar, mint and lime juice, Cubans were able to transform the unpalatable rum into something absolutely delicious!
As Americans were permitted to visit Cuba, the love for Mojitos began to spread and now its one of the most well known cocktails in the world! A few fresh ingredients, ice and a good white rum are all you need to enjoy this Cuban classic!
How To Make 5 Different Mojito Recipes
Mojitos are a refreshing summertime drink perfect for serving on your patio, rooftop bar, or at your next barbecue. This versatile cocktail can be served the traditional way, or you can get creative with new ingredients to keep up with emerging bar trends. Introducing other fruit flavors such as lemon or watermelon can transform your classic mojito into a unique and exciting cocktail that guests will pay a premium for. Check out the mojito recipe video below to learn how to make five different mojito recipes that are perfect for your summertime bar menu.
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Mojito Pitcher For A Crowd Recipe
Please a crowd at any party, wedding, catered event, or other gathering with this mojito pitcher recipe. Simply pour all of the ingredients into a pitcher, mix them up, and serve. With this quick and easy recipe, you’ll have a tasty beverage for your guests in no time. Plus, you’ll be able to fulfill your guests’ demand for refills in a flash.
A Mojito Thats Just Sweet Enough
The best part about this mojito recipe: its just sweet enough! So many mojito recipes can be like drinking sugar water. This one is sweetened just enough to be refreshingly tart, but not too sweet. Of course if you like your drinks sweeter, feel fee to add more sweetener to taste. There are two options for sweetening this mojito recipe, depending on your preferences:
- Simple syrup: Ultra classic is to use simple syrup! You can buy it or its easy to make at home. Heres how to make simple syrup.
- Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is a fantastic natural sweetener for cocktails! It has a nuanced flavor and gentle way of sweetening drinks. It doesnt taste like maple: it just adds a natural sweetness.
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What To Serve With Mojitos
Here are some great snacks to enjoy while sipping on a refreshing Cuban mojito:
- Combine sugar and water in a small pot over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove the pan from the heat and cook the syrup to room temperature.
- Pour the simple syrup into a container. Cover and store it in the refrigerator.
Mojito Drink
- In a mixing glass, pour the juice from the lime over the mint. Muddle the mint but dont overdo it.
- Place the squeezed lime pieces into a separate serving glass.
- Pour the club soda into a measuring glass.
- Add the rum and simple syrup to the measuring glass.
- Pour the rum mixture into the mixing glass and stir all the ingredients together.
- Pour the contents of the mixing glass into the serving glass.
- Add 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.
Garnish And Serve Your Refreshing Mojito
All that’s left to do is garnish your mojito with some more mint sprigs and a twist of lime, then you’re ready to sip on this cool cocktail. While it’s easy to whip up a mojito on the spot, McGlinn also loves how easy it is to make batches for later serving. “To make in batches, multiply the recipe by however many portions you need, then mix the simple syrup, rum, and lime juice together in a jar,” she explains. When you’re ready to serve, simply pour 3 ounces of the mixture into a glass, add ice, club soda, and garnish, and voila!
You can also build the entire cocktail in a sealable jar, then bring it with you for a beach day, which is something that McGlinn loves to do. “These are delicious for sunny, beachy days and last long enough to travel with,” she says. Maybe just pack the ice separately as to not dilute the drink before you hit the sand.
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Where Was The Mojito Invented
The mojito originated in Cuba, possibly derived from a 16th-century medicinal tonic known as El Draque . It’s said that in the 1800s, Africans who had been enslaved and working in Cuba’s sugarcane fields commonly took a similar elixir. As it advanced from tonic to beverage, the mint, lime, and sugar masked the taste of cheap rum. Havana lays claim to inventing the cocktail as it’s known today with the introduction of ice and soda. The mojito grabbed international attention when Americans flocked to Cuba during Prohibition. It was supposedly second to the daiquiri on Ernest Hemmingway’s list of favorite cocktails. Over the years, the rum improved, and the mojito’s fame spread immensely.
How To Make A Mojito From Scratch
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Mojito Calories: A Comparison
A classic mojito cocktail usually lands around 240 calories each, with its mixture of lime juice, sugar, mint leaves, soda and rum. Rum can be a little higher in calories than other types of alcohol. On the other hand, this lighter mojito drink is only 90 calories per serving! Even with the rum, cutting out the sugar of a regular mojito really lowers those carbs and calories. I promise you will never miss the sugar with this delicious cocktail.
How To Make A Pitcher Of Mojitos
To make mojitos for a larger group, you’ll need to make a few adjustments. This recipe will serve about 8 people. You can make the honey simple syrup in advance, but these are best when the mint is muddled fresh right before serving.
For a more make-ahead version, make mint flavored simply syrup and then simply add some fresh mint to garnish when serving. Instructions below to make mint flavored simple syrup.
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- about 4 cups ice
- about 4 cups soda water
Directions: Make the honey simply syrup by combining the honey and water in a microwave safe dish, Heat for 1.5-2 minutes until bubbling, Remove and stir well to dissolve the honey into the water. Let cool for about 5 minutes. Add the mint leaves and lime juice. Use a large wooden spoon to muddle everything together. Add the rum and give it a good stir. Then add the ice and top with soda water. Stir one more time and garnish with fresh mint and limes.
For make ahead mojitos, you’ll need to make mint simple syrup since the muddled mint browns if not used right away. Start by boiling the water. Add the mint and honey to the water and give it a good stir until the honey dissolves. This works with sugar as well. Let steep for 15 minutes and strain off the mint.
The prepare the lime juice, which will last in the fridge for up to a week. Then simply assemble when it is time to serve.
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