Cold, crisp and oh, so refreshing! This is the perfect classic cocktail to beat the sweltering heat.
Said to have roots in Havana, dating back over a century the mojito remains a summertime favorite. Born like many cocktails, both before and during Prohibition, using the addition of fruits, juices and sweeteners helped to cover up inferior spirits. But as the quality of spirits improved, fortunately these great cocktails stuck around.
The mojito makes the most of a quality white rum, with its light floral notes. This beautiful rum dances in a most delightful way alongside fresh mint and lime, softened with a touch of sweetness.
Recipes vary when it comes to the sweetener. Some call for raw or white sugar muddled with the mint leaves releasing their essence into the drink. Then other versions use a simple syrup that swirls easily into a cocktail. So why not use the best of both worlds and add a little of each.
Start with mint leaves, crushing them with raw sugar.
Drizzle in the thick syrup and a generous dose of tart lime juice and a note of brightness arrives compliments of the white rum along with a little fizz from a splash of club soda.
Swipe an extra bit of mint around the rim of the glass…
and top with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint! Refreshment is in your hand!
Mojitos
For each mojito:
4 large fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1-½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
4 tablespoons white rum
2 tablespoons club soda
Ice, preferably crushed
Slices of lime and extra sprigs of fresh mint for garnish
Drop the 3 of the mint leaves into the bottom of a highball or cocktail glass. Add the raw sugar and using a muddler, gently crush the sugar into the mint leaves.
Pour the simple syrup into the glass along with the fresh lime juice, giving it a quick stir until the sugar is dissolved. You can add more simple syrup if the limes are really tart.
Fill the glass about half full with ice.
Add the rum and the club soda and top off with extra ice. Rub the rim of the glass with the remaining mint leave and garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.
Makes one cocktail.
Mojitos
Ingredients
- 4 large fresh mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon raw sugar
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- 1-½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 tablespoons white rum
- 2 tablespoons club soda
- Ice, preferably crushed
- Slices of lime and extra sprigs of fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
- For each mojito:
- Drop the 3 of the mint leaves into the bottom of a highball or cocktail glass. Add the raw sugar and using a muddler, gently crush the sugar into the mint leaves.
- Pour the simple syrup into the glass along with the fresh lime juice, giving it a quick stir until the sugar is dissolved. You can add more simple syrup if the limes are really tart.
- Fill the glass about half full with ice.
- Add the rum and the club soda. Top off with extra ice.
- Rub the rim of the glass with the remaining mint leave and garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.
