Mojito

It is impossible not to smile while drinking a Mojito. Try it, we’ll wait…

Inspiration

Mojito

Made by Jena Ellenwood

Ahhhh the Mojito—once one frosty, mint speckled glass goes out, the rest of the bar is sure to follow suit and woe to the bar that isn’t properly prepared. A little bar ettiquette: if there is no Mojito on the menu, the bar looks busy and there is nary a mint sprig to be seen, this is not the place. However, should you wander in to a bar resplendant in mint bouquets and chock full of muddlers: have at it! One sip and I am back in Havana, the birthplace of this oh-so-simple and yet oh-so-perfect cocktail. For less mess at home, make a mint infused syrup (mint stems are great for this)! Pro tip: don’t over muddle your mint, it will get bitter.

If you love this cocktail, check out our full cocktail library or our YouTube Craft Cocktail Making playlist for home mixology lessons as you make your drink.

Let’s Get Shakin’

Serves: 1

Special Tools: Muddler, Jigger, Shaker, Strainer, Hand Juicer, Knife

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

6-8 mint leaves

1/2 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz white rum

Club Soda

Mint bouquet

Steps

Combine mint and simple syrup in shaker
Lightly muddle (we’re not making pesto here!)
Add lime, rum, and ice
Shake!
Dump into Collins glass, push mint to the bottom and fill with ice
Top with club soda
Garnish with a mint bouquet
Dream of the beach

Variations:

Fun with rum:

Swap a funkier/grassier rhum agricole or clairin for white rum or, for a sweeter and boozier kick, float a 1/2 oz of dark rum on top.

Sweet and herbal:

Infuse your simple syrup with mint and use instead of fresh! You can always save your mint stems in a bag in the freezer for this.

Fruity:

Add fresh berries, watermelon, or other fruit to the mint when you muddle (softer fruits work best).

Suzanne making a sour face wondering if she'll like this cocktail

But will I like it?

Cocktail flavor profile

Getting to know your palate, what you like, and what you don’t like is a critical part of being a great craft tippler AND key to becoming a great home bartender as well! So before you break out that barware and buy the key ingredients, here’s a little guidance on what to expect from this cocktail so you can start to hone in on exactly what elements of cocktails you enjoy and which you’d prefer to minimize. This helps you order new cocktails you love when you’re out on the town better as well!