Easy Mojitos

Mojitos have always been a favorite. It's hard to beat the combination of fresh mint and lime. There is nothing more refreshing on a hot day. However, restaurant mojitos are often packed with sugar and lemon-lime soda.

That's why I wanted to share a simple mojito recipe. You can make it home in less than 5 minutes with simple ingredients! Usually, I like my cocktails on the tart side and don't like anything super sweet, but this recipe is the perfect balance of tart and sweet. But you can always adjust it if you like things on the sweeter side!

Want more simple cocktail recipes? Try these Skinny Margaritas, a Classic White Wine Spritzer, or a Vinho Verde White Sangria!

How to make a Mojito from scratch?

The first step to making your mojito is the simple syrup. In this case, to keep things easy, we are going to make an easy, homemade simple syrup right in the microwave. I like to use honey since it is a more natural sweetener, but this would work with cane sugar as well.

Simply place 1 tbsp of water and 1.5 teaspoons of honey in the microwave. Heat for 30-45 seconds or until beginning to bubble. Stir to smooth out the mixture. Simple syrup is ready.

If you want to skip the simple syrup step, there are a few options. First, you could use maple syrup or agave. Both dissolve into the water more easily than traditional sugar or honey. If you want to use straight sugar, you'll need to shake or stir the cocktail very well to help the sugar dissolve.

Next, add the fresh mint and fresh lime juice to the simple syrup. Muddle together the mint, lime juice, and simple syrup. You can use a cocktail muddler or just use a spoon. Muddling the mint releases the oil and flavor and is an essential step in the process.

Now add the rum and ice. Give everything a really good shake or stir, ideally in a cocktail shaker, for 15-20 seconds. Strain and pour over fresh ice. Fill the glass with soda water and garnish with fresh lime and mint.

Which type of rum is best for mojitos?

For mojitos, go with a white rum. It's light and smooth and lets the lime and mint shine without taking over the drink. You don't need anything fancy. Just use your favorite type of plain white rum!

Bacardi Superior is a classic and easy to find. If you can get your hands on Havana Club 3 Años, that's a great pick, too, and more traditional. Flor de Caña or Cruzan Light Rum are also good options if you want something a little different.

Don't use the dark or spiced rums, as they're better for other cocktails and don't really work in a mojito! The spiciness and heaviness tend to overpower the delicate flavors in the drink.

How to Muddle Fresh Mint Leaves

The best way to muddle fresh mint is to be gentle. You're not trying to shred the leaves. You only want to press them enough to release the oils. Use a muddler or the back of a spoon, and lightly press the mint against the bottom of your glass a few times. If you mash the mint leaves too hard, it gets bitter and grassy. Do this before adding ice so the leaves don't get smashed into the bottom.

Mojito Variations and Flavor Ideas

Here are some fun ways to change up your mojitos to make them your own:

• Rum swap: Using flavored rum is a quick way to change up the flavor of a mojito. Coconut rum is a popular choice to make a coconut mojito. You can also try lemon, lime, berry, or any other flavored clear rum on the market.
• Add fresh fruit: Fresh fruit is a welcome addition to most cocktails, and mojitos are no different. You can make strawberry, pineapple, watermelon, raspberry, or mango mojitos easily. For a more rustic drink, simply muddle the fresh fruit with the mint and honey before making the drink. For a smoother option, blend the fruit into a puree and add that to the drink.
• Add cucumber: Cucumber mojitos are becoming increasingly popular and couldn't be easier to make. Just muddle some cucumber slices with the mint and then garnish with some extra cucumber slices.
• Add fresh herbs: Adding additional fresh herbs can switch up the flavor. Favorites include fresh basil, fresh cilantro, or just a tiny touch of fresh rosemary.
• Make it frozen: Make a frozen version by adding everything to the blender with some ice.

How to Make a Pitcher of Mojitos

To make mojitos for a larger group, you'll need to make a few adjustments. This recipe will serve about 8 people. You can make the honey simple syrup in advance, but these are best when the mint is muddled fresh right before serving.

For a more make-ahead version, make mint-flavored simple syrup and then simply add some fresh mint to garnish when serving. Instructions are below for making mint-flavored simple syrup.

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey
• 64 mint leaves (2 bunches)
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 1.5 cups rum (about 3 tbsp)
• about 4 cups of ice
• about 4 cups of soda water

Directions: Make the honey simply syrup by combining the honey and water in a microwave-safe dish. Heat for 1.5-2 minutes until bubbling. Remove and stir well to dissolve the honey into the water. Let cool for about 5 minutes. Add the mint leaves and lime juice. Use a large wooden spoon to muddle everything together. Add the rum and stir it. Then add the ice and top with soda water. Stir one more time and garnish with fresh mint and limes.

For make-ahead mojitos, you'll need to make mint simple syrup since the muddled mint browns are not used right away. Start by boiling the water. Add the mint and honey to the water and stir until the honey dissolves. This works with sugar as well. Let steep for 15 minutes and strain off the mint.

Prepare the lime juice, which will last in the fridge for up to a week. Then, simply assemble when it is time to serve.