This Classic Mint Mojito recipe is made with fresh squeezed limes, mint leaves, and rum. It’s a refreshing drink for a hot summer night and a great way to use up any mint in your garden.
Love easy summer cocktails? Then try my Blood Orange Mojito and Red Wine Sangria!
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Homemade Mint Mojitos
The start of summer means sunshine, warm weather and theses Classic Mint Mojitos. They are so light and refreshing and perfect for cooling off on a hot Summer night! I love tripling this recipe to make for a crowd!
I make my mojito a bit differently than others. Instead of plopping the sugar in the drink, I make a simple syrup. A simple syrup is a mixture of sugar and water that gets simmered. Once the water is hot the sugar will dissolve. Now you won’t have all of the sugar at the bottom of your glass. Your mojito will be sweet throughout!
I also like to muddle my lime and mint together instead of just squeezing the lime juice into the glass. It extracts as much flavor and juice from the lime as possible. It also helps the mint release it’s natural oils. I like to leave the squeezed lime wedges and muddled mint in the drink for presentation. If you are not a fan of the mint and lime in your drink simply strain out before adding in the seltzer.
What’s in a Mojito?
- Simple syrup: Made from sugar dissolved in equal parts hot to boiling water.
- Fresh mint: I prefer to use spearmint. If your mint is not looking super fresh try reviving it in cold water for a few minutes to help perk it up.
- Lime wedges: Fresh squeezed is preferred over bottled lime juice!
- White rum: Clear white rum is best! Make sure to choose a good quality rum.
- Sparkling water: Is added at the end to top off our glass.
how to make a mojito
This simple cocktail is super easy to make!
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until sugar dissolves. Takes about 1-2 minutes to dissolve. Take off of heat and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, add mint and lime in a small pitcher or large glass. Muddle together for about a minute until all of the juice is squeezed out of the lime and the oils have released from the mint.
- Add cooled simple syrup and rum to the mint and lime. Fill each glass with ice. Pour half of the mojito mixture into each glass. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with extra sprigs of mint leaves and enjoy!
Variations
- Try different herbs: Fresh basil would be amazing in place of the mint.
- Try different citrus: If you don’t have fresh lime, lemon can be used instead. It is hard to tell the difference!
- Add fruit: Muddle strawberries, cherries, blueberries or blackberries along with the mint and lime wedges for a fruity twist.
- Make it frozen: Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until icy and smooth.
- Add cucumber: Cucumber + lime + mint is one of my favorite combinations! Muddle a couple slices of cucumber with the limes and mint and put a couple extra slices for garnish!
kelley’s tips
- Choose high quality rum: This makes a huge difference!
- Don’t over muddle: This will cause the mint to turn bitter and slimy. I only muddle for a couple seconds. Just enough to extract the juice from the limes and release the oils in the mint.
- Make it your own: One of the best things about making a mojito at home is that you can adjust it to your own taste. If you want it sweeter add more simple syrup. More alcohol add a splash more of rum.
more cocktail recipes to try!
5 minutes- 5 minutes
- 5 minutes
- 5 minutes
Classic Mint Mojito
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until sugar dissolves. Takes about 1-2 minutes to dissolve. Take off of heat and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, add mint and lime in a small pitcher or large glass. Muddle together for about a minute until all of the juice is squeezed out of the lime and the oils have released from the mint.
- Add cooled simple syrup and rum to the mint and lime. Fill each glass with ice. Pour half of the mojito mixture into each glass. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with extra sprigs of mint leaves and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Madison
We just tried making this drink and, while delicious, we were kind of confused on how 4 ounces of liquids would be enough for a cocktail sized drink. Do you usually double this recipe per person? Thanks!
Kelley
Hi Madison,
I know it does not seem like a lot but I fill up my glasses all the way with ice and usually top off the drink with seltzer. You can always double if you prefer.
Thank you,
Kelley
Kari Elam
Perfect recipe! I hate ordering mojitos at restaurants becasue they are never made right (i.e. too sweet, not sweet enough, etc.). This is exactly how I love my mojitos. : )
Kelley
Thank you Kari! I feel the exact same way when I order mojitos at a restaurant! They are always so much better at home!
Jouni Nordman
Rub mint and lime with sea salt on a cutting bord and you get more flavour??
Kelly
Really Good! I added fresh strawberries too and it was great!
Norma
Love this recipe but I add mango balls infusion w ron!! Its just perfect a twice to your recipe!!??
Jose A Garcia-Ruelas.
Perfecto… no tan dulce, no tan fuerte. Use Ron Matusalem Platino.
Donna
20 mint leaves, really. Your family must own a mint farm. LOL Do ya drink it or chew it?Little overboard don’t ya think?
Nathan
Hi Donna,
Please feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking and personal taste. Thanks for the comment.
Nathan
@chefsavvy
Jennifer
Made this tonight with tequila instead of rum (highly recommended) I didn’t want to take the time to make simple syrup, so I just muddled the mint leaves, 2 Tbsp bottled lime juice (I didn’t have fresh limes but had an enormous craving :), and the sugar to make a syrup, then shook with the tequila & ice before straining over ice & adding club soda. To the commenter who asked if you “chew” this because there are so many mint leaves, this is what strainers on shakers are for 🙂 Perfect proportion of mint to lime & absolutely heavenly, a needed hit of summer on a cold rainy day 🙂
Kelley
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this Jennifer! I’ve haven’t tried it with tequila before I will have to try this next time I have one!
Thanks!
Kelley
Cindy B.
I can’t wait to try this! I made a large batch of simple syrup and out mint leaves in while it’s cooking then store in the fridge for easy mint Julips so I will try that with this recipe!
Nathan
Hi Cindy,
I hope they were a hit! Thank you for trying out the recipe!
Nathan