Classic Mojito
Home / Recipes / Drinks / Classic Mojito
Classic Mojito
This classic mojito is bright, minty, and refreshing, built on fresh lime, sugar, and gently muddled mint. The trick is to press the mint just enough to release its oils without shredding it, which keeps the drink clean instead of bitter. White rum and a splash of club soda finish it off. This recipe makes one cocktail and scales up well for a pitcher.
Ingredients
- 8 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
- 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 ounces white rum
- Club soda, to top
- Ice, preferably crushed
Directions
- In a sturdy glass, add the mint leaves, lime wedges, and sugar.
- Muddle gently a few times to release the mint oils and lime juice. Do not pulverize the mint.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in the rum.
- Top with club soda and stir briefly to combine.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wedge. Serve with a straw.
Tips and variations
- Muddle the mint gently. Pressing too hard tears the leaves and turns the drink bitter.
- Crushed ice keeps a mojito cold and dilutes it just enough as you sip.
- For a pitcher, multiply everything except the soda, then top each glass with soda when you pour.
- Please drink responsibly and only if you are 21 or older. Keep water on hand and never serve to anyone underage.
Save it to your Recipe Box
Copy this one onto a 4x6 card. Title across the top, the six ingredients down the left, the five steps down the right, and Serves 1, Prep 5, Cook None along the header. File it behind the Drinks divider. Built to outlast the screenshot.
Get the Recipe Box
Common questions
- What rum is best for a mojito
- A light white rum is traditional. It is clean and lets the mint and lime stand out.
- How do I muddle mint without making it bitter
- Press the leaves gently just a few times to release their oils. Bruising is enough. Shredding the mint is what makes it bitter.
- Can I make a virgin mojito
- Yes. Leave out the rum and add a little more club soda. Muddle the mint and lime the same way for a refreshing mocktail.
- How do I make mojitos for a party
- Muddle the mint, lime, and sugar in a pitcher, add the rum and ice, and top each glass with club soda as you serve so it stays fizzy.
More drink recipes
Keep the ones that work
When a recipe earns a repeat, it deserves a card. The Albino Monkey Recipe Box keeps your handwritten favorites on real wooden dividers, Breakfast through Favorites.
See the Recipe Box