Mojito Drink Recipe

Mojito drink recipe
Photo by Sam Hojati on Unsplash
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15 comments
Nutrition Information† ‡

Serving size: 1 drink

Calories
229
Fat
0.0 g
Carbs
38 g
Protein
0.1 g
† Show full nutrition facts

Ingredients

How to Make It

  1. Gently muddle the lime juice, mint leaves, and sugar syrup together at the bottom of the glass.
  2. Fill the glass with ice, then slowly add the rum.
  3. Fill with soda and stir gently to bring the leaves upwards into the mixture.
  4. Optionally add lime wedges as an addition garnish.

The Mojito

The mojito is a traditional Cuban alcoholic drink that may date as far back as the 17th century. It is one of the most famous rum based highballs and has enjoyed tremendous popularity in the last several years, partly due to the efforts of Bacardi in reviving the popularity of it through new products and advertisements.

Although contested, many attribute the modern mojito to have been invented at La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Cuba. The author Ernest Hemingway has been permanently associated to the Mojito as he frequently drank them at this hotel, and inscribed "Mi mojito en la Bodeguita" on the wall of the bar, where it has been saved and can still be viewed today.

The traditional mojito is made from five ingredients - rum, lime, sparkling water (club soda), mint and sugar. The mint is muddled with the lime juice and sugar (either cane or powdered) and sometimes the lime wedges as well. The rum is added and mixed with club soda, and stirred gently to lift the muddled items for presentation. Some areas of Cuba add a dash of Angostura bitters as well.

Many variations of the mojito are becoming more popular with fruit flavored rums or vodkas being substituted for the classic Cuban or light rum.

Preparation tips

Here are some tips to help you make a great mojito.

  • Most people do not add the mint stems to the drink. If muddled or bruised, they can give off a very bitter taste. However, at the La Bodeguita del Medio, they add two mint stalks (stems and all) as well as the club soda to the glass before muddling, so there is a lot of confusion as to whether using the stalks is "correct" or not. Depending on the species of mint you are using, you may need to experiment.
  • Make sure you squeeze the lime wedges into the glass before muddling everything.
  • Try the recipe with a few drops of Angostura Bitters!
  • As a variation, some people use ginger ale instead of soda water.
  • If mint and lime isn't your thing, see all our other mojito variations.

Comments on Mojito

  • chavocruise
    Nov 27th, 2015
    my bar dont have fresh mint. is there anything you can sub for fresh mint??? just wondering and thanx in advance
  • weiser
    Feb 27th, 2015
    Beeeer is better
  • Glo
    Apr 7th, 2013
    love Dave M's comment about the motivator before work!
  • SR711982
    Nov 29th, 2012
    They are OK if there is nothing else to drink.
  • Brownsugar
    Jul 31st, 2012
    heard so much about this drink can't wait to make it myself because I had it in Houston and it wasn't great!
  • Doug Styles
    Jan 25th, 2012
    Never had one. But I see them on the show Burn Notice all the time. Looks like I have a drink to explore this weekend. Thx!
  • pam
    Dec 13th, 2011
    sounds good to me I'll have to try the different variations.
  • Iceburg
    Apr 15th, 2011
    This shit is nasty
  • Carmen
    Apr 5th, 2010
    I can't really drink Rum or Gin anymore but loooove me some Mojitos! Recently, I've been making them with Tyku sake (got the idea from another cocktail site) and they are to die for!! So refreshing and tasty. I'm going to try it with this recipe!
  • Jessi Marie
    Jan 17th, 2010
    its very rare or your everyday bar to have mint leaves, though they should!!! makes the drink quite perrty!!
  • Monkey Justice
    Sep 28th, 2009
    @Craig - 2 leaves was a typo. It was meant to be 12.
  • Craig
    Sep 11th, 2009
    "2 leaves" of mint has to be a mistake. Maybe two sprigs, about 10-12 leaves! The lime juice should be from Key (Mexican) limes, preferably not common Persian limes; if you use key lime, you can use a little less juice as it's more sour and flavorful. The trick always is to balance the sweet and the sour, which takes practice and depends on the consistency of your lime juice and your simple syrup. For a real treat, use San Pellegrino as the club soda!
  • Diego
    Aug 2nd, 2009
    This is how they do it in La boteguida del medio, in la Havana, Cuba: high ball glass pour 1 oz fresh lime juice, a 2 teaspoons of white sugar, add a splash of soda water, stir, add a hand full of mint sprigs (they use hierba buena, which is quite similar but more bitter), muddle with a round wooden muddler gently, not more that 5 hits, add ice cubes to top, pour 2 and half ounces of havana club 3anos, top with soda water, stir... enjoy... you may wanna try to add a few drops of angostura too !
  • Repo Jr.
    Jul 5th, 2009
    Bacardi has mixers that are good. just mix in carb water, rum and mint leaves to garnish.
  • mom
    Jun 14th, 2009
    mmmmmmmmm-mmmmmmmmm

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