Crisp, tart, barely candy, and all the time aromatic, the basic mojito is a basic cocktail that I by no means get bored with sipping.
I’ve been a fan of mojitos for some time now. I attempted my first mojito about 15 years in the past, whereas on a tenting journey with a number of households. Our pal Tony made the mojitos and I used to be hooked.
(Sure, that will be Tony, the identical one that launched us to the loopy scrumptious Sluggish Cooker Baked Beans recipe and Italian Cream Liqueur.)
We’ve tried fairly a couple of mojito recipes over time. I benefit from the Pineapple Mojitos and Basil Mojitos as effectively, however I all the time circle again to the basic cocktail made with loads of recent mint, lime, and rum.
Basic Mojito
Add in a refreshing splash of membership soda and you’ve got summer season in a glass. This cocktail recipe is right for sipping at a backyard social gathering or for enjoyable on the porch with mates on a heat summer season night.
And since I lived in one of many hottest cities within the US for a really very long time, this drink turned a favourite just about year-round.
I’ll warn you now that when you begin making your personal mojitos at dwelling, you gained’t be practically as pleased with anybody else’s. The exception to that’s my pal Holly. She makes a fully fabulous mojito and I by no means flip one among hers down.
You may take a look at Holly’s recipe right here, if you wish to give her model a strive. You would possibly discover our recipes are near equivalent. (That simply is perhaps the explanation I really like hers too!) Nice mojito-loving minds clearly assume alike.
Mojito Elements
A basic mojito is concurrently elegant but easy. It brings collectively a few of my very favourite beverage components in a easy and much-loved cocktail.
What’s in a mojito? Lime juice, loads of recent mint, rum, easy syrup, and membership soda.
White rum is the perfect rum for mojitos. You should use mild rum as effectively, simply be sure you keep away from flavored rums in order to not overpower the opposite flavors we’re including to the drink. No must spring for the most costly rum on the shelf. A middling rum will do exactly nice for a pitcher of mojitos.
The brilliant, tart, citrusy taste in an ideal mojito comes from loads of freshly squeezed lime juice. For a pitcher of mojitos, I take advantage of at the least a full cup of lime juice (roughly the equal of 9 or 10 limes relying on how a lot juice they yield).
I strongly suggest slicing and squeezing your personal limes with a handheld juicer for the perfect taste. Your mojitos will style a lot more energizing than in the event you use bottled lime juice and it’s undoubtedly definitely worth the little bit of additional effort.
What’s it that makes mojitos so distinctive? It’s the abundance of recent mint. The abundantly aromatic, ever-so-slightly-spicy recent mint leaves make this cocktail as refreshing as they arrive. Even my mates who aren’t enormous mint lovers get pleasure from this drink; the lime and mint complement one another so effectively.
Easy syrup, a (you guessed it) easy combination of sugar dissolved in water, provides the right contact of sweetness to the mojito.
While you sweeten your cocktail with easy syrup you gained’t find yourself with any grainy clumps of sugar on the backside of the glass. All of the sugar granules get dissolved and included fully into the remainder of the drink.
Lastly, a splash of bubbly membership soda brings the entire drink collectively.
Need to know my not-so-secret tip for a Excellent Mojito? I add greater than a beneficiant splash of membership soda to the ultimate glass when serving a mojito. The effervescent membership soda provides this cocktail its mild, refreshing and summery style, making it really easy to sip and luxuriate in.
Mojito Pitcher Recipe
The recipe I’m sharing right here is for a pitcher of basic mojitos. Considered one of these small pitchers might be shared between 2 to 4 folks, relying on how giant you pour your drinks and the way a lot membership soda you want so as to add to the glass.
Should you don’t have already got easy syrup readily available, make a batch earlier than you combine the opposite mojito components. To rapidly make easy syrup, add half a cup of sugar to a half cup of water in a jar. Shut the jar and shake vigorously till the sugar is totally dissolved (a few minutes).
Mojitos start by muddling lime juice and mint leaves collectively on the backside of a pitcher or glass. This step helps the lime and mint flavors intermingle. I usually use this muddler (finest ever!) and this pitcher to make this recipe.
Subsequent, add the rum and easy syrup to the lime and mint together with sufficient ice to fill the pitcher 2/3 of the way in which. Chill within the fridge till you’re able to pour your mojitos.
Should you aren’t a fan of getting crushed mint leaves in your drink, merely pour the drinks via a small strainer into every glass. I do that more often than not once I’m serving friends.
When it’s time to serve the drinks, fill particular person glasses midway with ice then add the mojito combine till the glasses are about 2/3 full. High with membership soda to fill the glass. A garnish of mint leaves and a lime wedge makes a pleasant addition!
Should you’ve ever had a mojito at my home, I seemingly made the recipe with the lesser quantities of straightforward syrup and rum. I like to regulate the person drinks with kind of alcohol and sweetness. That means everybody will get to get pleasure from their drink precisely the way in which they like it finest.
Nonetheless, the recipe beneath is my commonplace “base” for mojito making. Be happy to regulate the quantities to your required energy, sweetness or mintiness.
When you have a bigger pitcher, you’ll be able to simply double the recipe for a crowd!
Virgin Mojito Recipe
Oh! And earlier than I overlook, these mojitos are splendidly refreshing for all ages with none alcohol in any respect.
When serving mojitos at a gathering, I usually make a pitcher with rum and a pitcher sans alcohol so everybody can get pleasure from. Each time I combine one among these rum-free pitchers collectively for mates, somebody asks for the recipe.
It’s really easy to make non-alcoholic excellent mojitos: Simply observe the recipe as normal however skip the alcohol! No different changes are required.
On the lookout for extra rum cocktail recipes? It’s exhausting to go incorrect with a Basic Mai Tai. For one thing slightly out of the unusual, this Pomegranate Rum Cocktail seems divine.
And within the wintertime, nothing says consolation like a mug of Sizzling Buttered Rum. I created a Non-Alcoholic Sizzling Buttered Rum too, so everybody in my household may get pleasure from this one.
Can’t get sufficient Mojito Recipes in your life? Attempt Mango Mojitos by Loopy for Crust, Strawberry Mojito Slushies by The Little Kitchen, Champagne Mojitos by Foodie Crush or these summery Cherry Limeade Mojitos by The Noshery.
You’ll be in Mojito heaven all yr lengthy!
{initially revealed 9/20/16 – recipe notes and images up to date 2/22/23}
