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Need to up your cocktail game? Here’s how to muddle mint for all your favorite cocktail recipes: the Mojito, Whiskey Smash, and more!
Making a cocktail that calls for muddling? Muddling is a technique used to mash herbs or fruit to release their juices gently. This helps the flavors bind with the alcohol better than simply using them whole. Muddling is used in many popular cocktails, like the Mojito and Whiskey Smash.
As you might expect, a bit of technique is involved in muddling — you don’t want to mash your herbs to a pulp! You can also use this technique for herbs like basil or fruit like lime and lemon. Let’s get into how to do it!
How to muddle mint
How to Muddle Mint
Need to up your cocktail game? Here's how to muddle mint to use in all your favorite cocktail recipes: the Mojito, Whiskey Smash, and more!
Materials
- Fresh mint leaves (or other herbs: basil, rosemary, and so forth)
Tools
- Cocktail muddler
- Cocktail shaker
Instructions
- The right way to muddle mint: Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker or large metal cup or bowl. Using a wooden cocktail muddler or unfinished wooden spoon, gently mash the mint 3 to 4 times to release the juices. It should look like this.
- The wrong way to muddle mint: Do not mash the mint to a pulp! Here's an example of what it should not look like:
Tools required for muddling
We make a lot of cocktail recipes, so we decided to invest in professional-grade tools! If you prefer, you can muddle without a muddler — see the section below.
- Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker chills drinks fast by shaking them with ice, then lets you pour without the ice thanks to a built-in strainer. It’s easiest to muddle mint in a cocktail shaker because it’s durable, and you can then make the drink right in the shaker.
- Cocktail Muddler: An unfinished wooden muddler is recommended so that no artificial flavors flake off into your drink.
How to muddle without a muddler?
You might be wondering, “Is there a way to muddle mint without a muddler?” (How’s that for a tongue twister?) There absolutely is — here’s what we recommend:
- What can I use instead of a muddler? Use a wooden spoon to gently mash the berries, lime wedges, or mint leaves.
- What can I use instead of a cocktail shaker for muddling? If you’re muddling mint, we’d recommend trying it in a large metal cup or bowl — do not muddle in glass for safety reasons! If you’re looking to make a drink without a cocktail shaker: use a glass canning jar to put the drink ingredients and ice into, then cover the top and shake! Pour it through a strainer into the serving glass.
Drinks with muddled mint, herbs, and fruit
Now that you know how to muddle mint, let’s get to drinking! Here are my favorite drinks that use muddled mint, herbs, or other fruit:
- Berry Vodka Smash or Blackberry Bourbon Smash: This refreshing cocktail recipe muddles mint, lime wedges, and blackberries.
- Whiskey Smash Recipe: Muddle some mint and lemon, and you’ve got a smash!
- Basil Gimlet Recipe: How to make a basil-flavored gimlet? Muddle some basil.
- Gin & Watermelon Cocktail: Muddle lemon and mint, add watermelon and gin, and you’ve got one seriously tasty beverage.
Looking for more cocktail recipes?
Here are some of my favorite cocktail recipes (where muddling is not required!):
- Best Frose Recipe (Frozen Rosé)
- Strawberry Daiquiris
- Watermelon Smoothie
- BEST Classic Margarita
- Blackberry Margarita
- Must-Try Gin Cocktails
- Best Moscow Mule Recipe
- Best Frozen Margarita Recipe
- Frozen Sangria
- Favorite Whiskey Sour
- Gin Fizz Cocktail
- Best Piña Coladas (or Virgin Piña Coladas)
- Basil Gimlet Recipe (or Classic Gin Gimlet)
I found your website today and I am so impressed.
Hi! What’s the reason for not muddling the mint to a pulp? Does it release too much mint, does it ruin the quality of the flavor it produces?
Great question! It can break down into little pieces in the drink that can get through the strainer. Thanks for asking!
Started with the Mojito recipe and ended up on muddling. Really appreciate the detailed information, and especially all the photos. I know how much trouble it is to take lots of process photos, but they make a big difference.
So anything about actual technique or approximate number of times you press the mint? A few times doesn’t really say much when it states 1 min to actually to do at the very beginning of the article. A few times would mean two seconds. More info would be helpful.
We clarified to say 3 to 4 times! Thanks for the comment!