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This easy Mojito recipe is perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! Our spin on this iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough: perfect for making one serving or a pitcher for a crowd!

Is there any cocktail more refreshing than a mojito? Of all the classic cocktails, this iconic Cuban drink is one of the greats. Here’s our spin on the mojito recipe that we think is perfectly balanced: not too sweet, bubbly, and minty fresh.
Like the margarita, the classic drink recipe has less sugar and more nuance than what it’s become in bars and pre-made mixes. The classic is perfect for sipping on the patio, and just as good in the dead of winter when you’re dreaming of the beach. We love this mojito recipe so much, we even included the Mojito Pitcher version in our latest cookbook!
Mojito ingredients
The mojito is a sour cocktail that originates from Havana, Cuba. The origins of the Mojito are cloudy: some say it was invented in the 1500s, others in the 1800’s with the birth of the Bacardi rum company. In any case, its place as an iconic Cuban cocktail was solidified by the 1930’s when Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize the drink.
To make it, you’ll simply muddle mint, add the lime juice, rum, and simple syrup, and shake it in a cocktail shaker. Then top off the glass with club soda before serving. A classic Mojito recipe includes:
- Fresh mint
- Lime juice
- White rum
- Simple syrup
- Soda water

The right way to muddle mint
Muddling is gently mashing herbs or fruits to release their juices. This technique is often used in cocktails because it helps the flavors incorporate better than if you just threw a mint sprig right into the drink. Is there a right way to muddle? In fact, there is! Here’s how to muddle mint…the right way:
- Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, you can use a large metal cup or bowl.
- Using a wooden cocktail muddler or unfinished wooden spoon, gently mash the mint a few times to release the juices. Do not mash the mint with a lot of force! The key to muddling is a light touch.
Want more ideas for using up mint? Try these Best Mint Recipes or Mint Cocktails.

A few notes on sweeteners
The best part about this easy mojito recipe: it’s 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. If you like your drinks sweeter, feel fee to add more sweetener to taste. There are a few options for sweetening this mojito recipe, depending on your preferences:
- Simple syrup: Ultra classic is using simple syrup! You can buy it, but it’s so easy we prefer making it at home.
- Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener for cocktails that has a nuanced flavor and gentle way of sweetening drinks. It doesn’t taste like maple—it just adds a natural sweetness.
Mojito recipe variations
Here are a few cocktails that are similar to the Mojito and some fun variations! Make these Mojito recipes when you want to mix it up:
- Pitcher: This Mojito Pitcher makes 8 servings, perfect for serving a crowd.
- Frozen: This Frozen Mojito is an icy, refreshing spin.
- Fruity spins: Try Mojitos of all fruity flavors: a Strawberry Mojito, Blueberry Mojito, Blackberry Mojito, Raspberry Mojito, Peach Mojito, Watermelon Mojito, Pineapple Mojito, Mango Mojito, or Coconut Mojito.
- Mocktail: Use the Virgin Mojito as a non alcoholic mocktail.
- Other Liquors: Make a Vodka Mojito, Gin Mojito, or Tequila Mojito if you run out of rum!
Easy Mojito Recipe
This easy Mojito recipe is perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) simple syrup
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) white rum
- 2 to 4 ounces (½ cup) soda water
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves. (Here’s how to muddle mint.)
- Add the lime juice, simple syrup, and rum. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold.
- Place ice into a glass, and strain in the liquid. Top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with additional mint leaves.
- Pitcher variation: Go to Mojito Pitcher recipe.
what is the best rum u use for mojito
Any white rum in the $15-$20 range works well. We like the Brugal Extra Dry.