MOJITO HOME MADE

SINGLE SERVING:

• 10 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) white rum
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
• 2–3 teaspoons honey simple syrup (see below), to taste
• ice
• club soda

PITCHER FOR A CROWD (8 SERVINGS):

• 80 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 cups white rum
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/3 cup honey simple syrup (or more/less to taste)
• ice
• club soda

My all-time favorite mojito recipe, naturally sweetened with honey (instead of sugar) and SO fresh and delicious. Plus, tips for how to make a pitcher of mojitos for a crowd.

In honor of swimming pools opening everywhere, backyard grills firing up in full force, and all things warm and summery kicking off this weekend, I thought we could celebrate with a week of summer cocktail recipes here on the blog!

Beginning with the ultimate refreshing summery cocktail…

…the mighty, mighty mojito. ♡

Especially with fall of the fresh mint abounding in gardens and farmers markets everywhere this time of year, mojitos are the perfect summer cocktail to whip up for after-work happy hours, afternoons by the pool, weekend grill-outs, you name it. They’re quick and easy to make, so vibrant and lovely, and also easy to whip up in a pitcher if you happen to be serving a crowd. I’m also a big believer that the best mojito recipe is sweetened naturally with just a bit of honey (instead of loads of sugar), which really allows those bright, fresh, tart flavors shine through. But the joy in making homemade mojitos, of course, is that you can add as much sweetener, mint, lime, or rum to taste.

So if you’re looking for a solid mojito recipe this summer, bookmark this one and have fun crafting your own. Cheers, friends!

MOJITO INGREDIENTS:

Alright, so what’s in a mojito? Traditionally, a classic mojito cocktail is made with:

• Rum: White rum is traditional.
• Lime juice: Fresh, fresh, fresh please. Avoid the bottled stuff.
• Fresh mint: Any variety of fresh mint will do. And be sure to use some extra as a garnish.
• Club soda: We’ll add just a splash in at the very end.
• Sweetener: Super-fine sugar is traditional in mojito recipes. But I prefer to use honey simple syrup, which can be whipped up in the microwave in just a minute or so. (See instructions below.)  That said, feel free to use whatever kind of sweetener you prefer.
• Ice: I use ice both to shake the cocktail, and for serving.

You will also need:

• Cocktail Shaker: Such as this one.
• Cocktail Muddler: Such as this one. (Or you can just use a wooden spoon.)
• Tall glasses: Tall glasses, such as these, are traditional. But any serving glasses will do.
• Straws: I love these re-usable metal straws.
  

  

HOW TO MAKE A MOJITO:

• So let’s talk about how to make mojitos! For a single serving, simply:

  1. Muddle your mint. Combine your mint, rum, lime juice, and sweetener in a cocktail shaker. Then use a cocktail muddler to gently muddle the mint a bit so that those fresh minty flavors get released. (But try to avoid muddling the mint so much that it breaks up into million pieces.)
  2. Shake with ice. Add ice to the cocktail shaker, then cover and give it a good vigorous shake for about 15 seconds until chilled.
  3. Strain then top with club soda. Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice, being sure that an inch or so is left at the top of the glass. Top off with club soda.
  4. And serve! Garnished with lots of extra fresh mint and lime, if desired.

  That said, while making a mint mojito in a cocktail shaker is standard, I often take a shortcut and just muddle and mix everything together directly in the serving glass (skipping step 2), which is just as delicious. ;)

  

HOW TO MAKE A PITCHER OF MOJITOS:

• If you happen to be making a round of mojitos for a group, feel free to try out the mojito pitcher recipe below instead! To make a pitcher of mojitos, simply…

  1. Muddle your mint. Combine your mint, rum, lime juice, and sweetener in a large pitcher. Then use a cocktail muddler to gently muddle the mint a bit so that those fresh minty flavors get released. (But try to avoid muddling the mint so much that it breaks up into million pieces.)
  2. Fill pitcher with ice. Leaving about 2 free inches or so at the top of the pitcher.
  3. Top with club soda and stir. Top the pitcher with a good splash of club soda, and give the pitcher a stir.
  4. Then serve! Ideally right away, so that the ice does not melt too much. Serve into glasses filled with ice, then top with your desired garnishes.

  

MOJITO VARIATIONS:

• If you would like to vary things up from the classic mint mojito recipe, feel free to experiment with any of these other ideas:

  • Fruity Mojitos: Muddle in some fresh fruit for extra sweetness (pineapple, berries, orange, mango and watermelon are always delicious)
  • Cucumber Mojitos: Muddle in some fresh cucumber slices for an extra bit of refreshment.
  • Coconut Mojitos: Add in a splash of coconut milk or coconut water.
  • Spicy Mojitos: Muddle in some fresh jalapeño or serrano pepper slices for a bit of a kick.
  • Frozen Mojitos: Blend ingredients together in a blender for a mojito slushie.
  • Mojito Pie: Or if you feel like having a drink and dessert, this mojito pie recipe is always a hit. ;)