Mojito Recipe
Mint, lime and rum over crushed ice, lengthened with soda.
The mojito is a long, refreshing rum drink built in the glass. Gentle muddling is the difference between fresh mint and bitter mint.
Ingredients
- 40 ml White rum
- 30 ml Fresh lime juice
- 15 ml Sugar syrup
- 8 leaves Fresh mint
- 60 ml Soda water To top up
Garnish: Mint sprig and lime wheel
How to Make a Mojito
- Add mint leaves and sugar syrup to a highball glass.
- Press the mint gently with a muddler, do not shred it.
- Add lime juice and rum.
- Fill with crushed ice and stir from the bottom up.
- Top with soda water.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Best Bottles for a Mojito in India
Clean, neutral base for mint and lime
Indian white rum at a lower price
Indian craft rum with more flavour
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Mojito
- Press the mint, do not tear it. Torn leaves release bitter compounds.
- Use crushed ice if you can. It chills the drink faster.
- Top with soda last so it stays fizzy.
About the Mojito
The Mojito comes from Havana, Cuba. Its roots are usually traced to El Draque, a rough 16th-century mix of aguardiente (raw cane spirit), lime, sugar and mint named after Sir Francis Drake. When Cuban distillers began making light, filtered rum in the 1800s, the drink became the Mojito we know.
It was a standard order in Havana by the 1920s and 1930s, when Americans escaping Prohibition filled the city's bars. La Bodeguita del Medio, opened in 1942, built its reputation on the drink. The handwritten note linking Ernest Hemingway to the bar's mojitos is widely repeated, but its authenticity is disputed.
The Mojito is an IBA official cocktail and regularly ranks among the most ordered cocktails in the world, alongside the Margarita and the Piña Colada. It is also one of the lightest classics, at around 10% ABV.
Mojito Variations
- Virgin Mojito: leave out the rum and add more soda water.
- Old Cuban: aged rum, mint, lime and bitters, topped with sparkling wine instead of soda.
- Fruit Mojito: muddle strawberries, raspberries or passion fruit with the mint.
- Southside: the gin version, shaken and served without soda.
- Feni Mojito: Goan cashew feni in place of white rum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Mojito?
How strong is a Mojito?
What is the best rum for a Mojito?
Why does my Mojito taste bitter?
Can you make a Mojito without a muddler?
Is a Mojito a strong drink?
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