Mojito

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Mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is a blend of rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. We’re keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. It’s delicious, easy, refreshing and the best mojito around!

The mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is a blend of rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. We're keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. It's delicious, easy, refreshing and the best mojito around!

When it comes to cocktail recipes I’m a pretty simple girl. I definitely gravitate toward easy to make, lower sugar cocktails with few ingredients. I also gravitate toward rum and vodka-based cocktails that are clean, crisp and not fermented from grains. Case in point: the Bacardi rum used in this recipe is fermented from molasses.

Now, I’m not a big drinker, but when I do have a cocktail I want it to be the best. I want it to have the highest quality liquor, freshest ingredients and taste amazing – like today’s mojito recipe.

Mojitos are the quintessential summer cocktail recipe with their light, citrusy, minty fresh flavor. They’re ultra refreshing and cooling on sweltering hot summer days and perfect for pool lounging or backyard chilling.

What Ingredients are in a Mojito?

A classic mojito is made from five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. And the mojito recipe I’m sharing with you today includes all of those items.

But instead of granulated sugar (or simple syrup) we’re swapping honey – and using half of the amount traditionally used. So I guess you could consider this more of a skinny mojito cocktail recipe.

I also highly recommend you use fresh limes and not packaged lime juice. In a cocktail recipe with few ingredients, the quality of the ingredients really matters. And you’ll definitely notice a more vibrant flavor with fresh limes.

The mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is a blend of rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. We're keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. It's delicious, easy, refreshing and the best mojito around!
The mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is a blend of rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. We're keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. It's delicious, easy, refreshing and the best mojito around!

Which Rum is Best for a Mojito?

An authentic mojito (as you’d find in Cuba) uses white rum. White or light rums have a sweet, subtle flavor and dark rums which have been aged longer have a bolder flavor.

My favorite rum is Bacardi Superior, also known as Bacardi Silver. It’s a white rum that’s high quality and easy to find.

The mojito (a classic Cuban cocktail) is a blend of rum, sugar, lime juice, mint leaves and club soda. We're keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. It's delicious, easy, refreshing and the best mojito around!

How To Make a Mojito

  1. Add 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves to a highball or collins glass. A glass in the 12 ounce to 14 ounce range is perfect. Add a teaspoon of honey and the juice from one lime (which equals two tablespoons of fresh lime juice).
  2. Use a muddler to gently press on the mint leaves to help release their natural oils and aroma. A big mistake (as I mention on the video above) is over-muddling and breaking apart the mint leaves. Don’t do that as it creates mint shrapnel in your cocktail, which invariably gets caught in your teeth (not sexy) and releases the more bitter compounds from the mint leaves. A soft and gentle muddle is all that’s needed.
  3. Add 2 ounces of white rum, which is the larger end of a cocktail jigger and use a cocktail spoon to stir everything together and make sure the honey is fully dissolved in the lime juice and rum.
  4. Fill the glass with ice cubes until it’s nearly full, then top it off with club soda. Add a fresh sprig of mint, pop in a straw and enjoy the best mojito recipe.

More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

Mojito recipe in a glass with fresh mint.

Mojito Recipe (with Video!)

4.95 from 18 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

The classic mojito recipe is a rum cocktail made from five simple ingredients. We're keeping the sugar low in this version and swapping granulated sugar (or simple syrup) for honey. Watch the video below to see how quickly it comes together!

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 10 fresh mint leaves
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • 2 ounces white rum
  • club soda

Instructions 

  • Add the mint leaves, honey and lime juice to a highball or collins glass. Use a muddler to gently muddle the mint leaves, but don’t muddle too much as you don’t want to break the leaves up.
  • Pour in the rum, then fill the glass ⅔ of the way full with ice.
  • Top it off with club soda, add a sprig of fresh mint, add a straw and enjoy.

Lisa’s Tips

  • I use one teaspoon of honey in this recipe (a traditional mojito calls for about 2 teaspoons of sugar) – so half the sugar. But you can use more or less depending on how sweet you like your cocktails.
  • The larger end of a cocktail jigger can range from 1.5-2 ounces. This one I use is 2 ounces.
  • I love this muddler + cocktail spoon combination as it saves space in your kitchen.
  • I also recommend these stainless steel straws (shown above) or glass straws.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 163.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.5g | Protein: 0.2g | Sodium: 26.6mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6.5g
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Cuban
Keyword: mojito, mojito recipe
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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Recipe Rating




37 Comments

  1. I love a good mojito to spend a leisurely Sunday brunch. And it’s a great use of my homegrown mint. :)5 stars

  2. Mmm, a mojito is my favorite cocktail. Can’t wait until it’s warm enough to make one of these and sit out at my cabin soon! Wonderful idea swapping out the sugar for honey.5 stars

  3. Made this and it was really good. Perfect for the weather in Thailand where I live!!!5 stars

  4. I could use one of these right about now! Looks great, thank you for sharing. Saving to make this weekend :)5 stars

  5. Great recipe. Shall use it next week at at a Top Hat Microsoft function in Redmond Wa State. 5 stars

    1. Thanks, John! Glad you liked the mojito recipe! If everyone likes the recipe at the function, give me a shout out! ;)

  6. I used agave nectar and Cachaca because that’s what I had on hand. I added a couple of ripe strawberries. Woo Hoo – great drink !!5 stars

  7. I absolutely Love mojitos! I made this to your measurements but for me it was too sour and not sweet enough so I did 3 teaspoons of organic agave. (My honey is pure from uncle’s bees and over sugared.) And added a bit more soda water after a few sips. So on next drink I will do half a lime and see how that tastes. Otherwise it’s amazing! Best recipe so far.4 stars

  8. Love the idea of this fresh cocktail! Just have to say your blog/vlog have completely changed my eating!
    I’m loving all of your gluten-free recipes:)
    Thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!5 stars

    1. That’s so wonderful to hear Karen! And thanks so much for the birthday wishes. I truly appreciate it! xo

  9. What a gorgeous looking drink, it looks very refreshing! I love that you have kept the sugar down and added honey instead giving this classic cocktail a healthier twist.5 stars

  10. absolutely love it,favourite cocktail.easy to make and taste very refreshing.can’t wait to give it a try.thanks for the recp.5 stars

  11. I pinned this for later. I love the replacement of the simple syrup with the honey. I also love the tip about not over muddling, because now I realize I always do. I’m on my way to making the best mojito ever.5 stars

    1. I think over muddling is something we’re probably all guilty of doing. Haha! But now you’re next mojito will be the best one yet! ;) x

  12. Happy Birthday!

    The spoon masher thing is great. The recipe sounds very good.

    Oddly, I am headed to visit Cuba.

    I hit 50 myself the first part of September. I remember when 50 was old…5 stars

    1. Thanks so much Glenn! Have a wonderful time in Cuba! And 50 is definitely the new 30, so you’re good to go. ;)