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Here’s the best classic mojito recipe and dozens of fun variations! The combination of white rum, mint and lime never gets old.
If there’s one drink that never gets old, it’s the classic Mojito. This refreshing classic invented in the 1930’s has stood the test of time…because it’s just that good. The way the herbaceous mint pairs with fruity rum and zingy lime makes magic every time. It’s such a favorite that we’ve created dozens of types of Mojito recipes that riff on this tasty concept.
So here’s our best Mojito recipe: made the classic way! It’s pared back to its essentials, following the classic definition and sweetened just enough. Then, try different types of Mojito recipe variations: in every color and flavor! Strawberry, coconut, pineapple, watermelon…each one is uniquely refreshing.
And now…the top mojito recipes to try!
The classic! This recipe for the iconic Cuban cocktail is as close as possible to the 1930’s version, when Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize the drink. The ingredients are simple and the flavor is sublime.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, soda water
When it comes to entertaining, it takes far too long to shake up individual drinks to order. Enter: the Mojito pitcher! This big batch cocktail works for dinner parties and makes 8 drinks. It’s minty, tangy, bubbly. (You can also vary it using some of the fruity ideas below.)
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, sugar, white rum, soda water
What’s better than a Mojito? A Strawberry Mojito! The sweet tart flavor of ripe fresh strawberries only improves this classic. Muddle some fresh berries right into the cocktail, and it makes a deliciously vibrant drink that’s perfect for summer…or anytime.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup, white rum, soda water
Need a fantastic summer cocktail? Look no further than this Watermelon Mojito! The minty Mojito is ideal for the season, with its bubbly, refreshing flavor. Add juicy watermelon to the mix and the delicately sweet flavor is simply outstanding.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, watermelon, lime juice, simple syrup, white rum, soda water
When the summer heat is is at sky high levels, here’s a drink that will cool you to your core: the Frozen Mojito! This frozen spin…well, it made our heads turn! It’s icy and outrageously refreshing: like someone amped up the dial on the mint volume of the standard Mojito. It's a must try!
Ingredients: White rum, simple syrup, lime, ice
Want a mojito that’s impossibly even better than the classic? Try this Coconut Mojito recipe! Coconut infuses a tropical sweetness and creamy body into this cocktail that’s altogether irresistible. Cream of coconut and coconut rum come together to make magic, forming a delightful frothy topping that adds a little foam to each sip.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, cream of coconut, white rum, coconut rum, soda water
Here’s a delicious pineapple juice cocktail spin on the mojito...the Pineapple Mojito! Add tropical pineapple to the mix, and it’s a symphony of flavor. The sweet tart of the fruit balances the tangy lime and sweet cooling mint perfectly.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, white rum, soda water, pineapple juice
Here’s one of the brightest colored Mojito recipes: try this Blueberry Mojito! This spin on the classic is minty fresh, with a hit of tangy sweet berries on the finish. Its irresistible flavor is a heightened version of the original, and that bright fuchsia-purple color will make every head turn.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, blueberries, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, soda water
What better to round out our berry variations than this Blackberry Mojito recipe? It’s tangy and sweet tart, with just the right ripe berry nuance. Muddling blackberries and mint makes the best summery aroma: you won’t be able to wait to take the first sip!
Ingredients: Fresh mint, blackberries, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, soda water
When you’ve got a favorite cocktail…you might as well make all the spins on it. Try this Mango Mojito recipe: sweet tart, tropical, and irresistibly refreshing! This one stars mango nectar for a nuanced, fruity flavor.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, mango nectar, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, soda water
Another delightfully fruity spin on the classic…this Raspberry Mojito recipe! Sweet berries pair perfectly with refreshing mint, and top it off bubbly soda water. It’s sweet tart and minty, with a delicate bubbly texture.
Ingredients: Mint, raspberries, lime juice, simple syrup, white rum, soda water
Here’s a cocktail that’s summer in a tall, ice-cube-clinking glass…this Peach Mojito recipe! Imagine: the juicy flavor of that ripe summer fruit, paired with hints of fresh mint, zingy lime, and white rum. It’s light, refreshing and altogether irresistible.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, ripe peaches, lime juice, simple syrup, white rum, soda water
Got limoncello? This ultra-strong lemon liqueur is often drunk as shots at the end of a meal. This Limoncello Mojito is a way to make a uniquely refreshing drink with this famous citrus liqueur! The limoncello adds a pure lemon flavor that’s impossible to get from lemon juice alone.
Ingredients: Mint, lime juice, simple syrup, Limoncello, white rum, soda water
Want to make a mojito but there’s no rum in sight? Make a Gin Mojito! If you’re a cocktail connoisseur like we are, you’ll know the Gin Mojito is simply a Gin Gimlet with mint. But if you’re going to monkey with the alcohol in this classic drink, this is the best way to do it!
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, gin, soda water
Vodka works as a swap for rum in this classic drink. But should you make a mojito recipe with vodka? That’s up for debate. Lose the rum and you’ve lost the tropical, fruity essence that’s at the heart of this drink. To us, there’s nothing like the Classic Mojito. But if you're all out of rum or mixing a drink for someone who doesn’t like it, this recipe works (or try the Tequila Mojito below).
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, vodka, soda water
Turns out, tequila works as a decent swap for rum in this classic drink! But keep in mind: the rum brings a tropical fruitiness that’s at the heart of a classic Mojito. Lose it and you’ve lost a bit of what makes this drink tick! We’d recommend making the classic if at all possible. But if you ran out of rum or are mixing a drink for someone who can’t stand it? Tequila works.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, tequila, soda water
Love a good Mojito? Then let us introduce you to the very best mocktail version of it: this Virgin Mojito recipe! It has all the minty flavor of the original, without the rum. This makes it perfect for people avoiding alcohol (maybe you!), and people like us who love to entertain. Make up our Classic Mojito for some guests, and this Mojito mocktail for others.
Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, orgeat syrup or simple syrup, soda water or tonic water
Mojito history and classic definition
The Mojito is a classic cocktail that originated in Havana, Cuba. Some say the combination of lime, rum and mint was invented in the 1500s by indigenous natives as a medicine. Others claim its invention was 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.
The Mojito makes the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, meaning it has a formalized definition (though it’s made differently everywhere). Here’s what’s in a classic mojito recipe:
- Fresh mint
- Lime juice
- Rum
- Sugar or simple syrup
- Soda water
Mojito Recipe (& Variations!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
Here’s a classic mojito recipe, perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
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
- For the classic: 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.
- Strawberry: Go to Strawberry Mojito recipe.
- Coconut: Go to Coconut Mojito recipe.
- Pineapple: Go to Pineapple Mojito recipe.
- Raspberry: Go to Raspberry Mojito recipe.
- Peach: Go to Peach Mojito recipe.
- Watermelon: Go to Watermelon Mojito recipe.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
More cocktail recipes
There are so many cocktails to try outside of these beach drinks! Here are 300+ cocktail recipes for every occasion:
- Classics: Try Classic Cocktails or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- Easy: These Easy Mixed Drinks and Cheap Drinks have just 2 to 3 ingredients.
- Fancy: Opt for the best in Craft Cocktails.
- The Big 5: Try all our cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Tequila or Rum.
- Beachy Drinks: Try Top Beach Drinks to Try or 10 Must-Try Frozen Alcoholic Drinks.
Let us know if you have any questions!