Refreshing Cuban Mojito with Fresh Mint and Lime

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fresh mint and lime make every sip cool, fragrant, and bright.
• It is easy to adjust the sweetness and sparkle to suit your taste.
• The entire cocktail comes together in just 10 minutes.
• Simple ingredients create a refreshing Cuban-inspired drink that feels special.

Grocery List

• Produce: 1 fresh lime and 1 small bunch fresh mint
• Dairy: None
• Pantry: White rum, superfine or granulated sugar, club soda or plain sparkling water, and ice

Full Ingredients

For the Mojito

• 10 medium fresh mint leaves, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, from about 1 medium lime
• 2 teaspoons superfine sugar or granulated sugar
• 2 ounces white rum
• 1 1/2 cups crushed ice, divided
• 2 ounces club soda or plain sparkling water, well chilled to 35 to 40°F

For Garnishing

• 1 fresh mint sprig
• 1 thin lime wheel

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill the serving glass

Place a 12-ounce highball or Collins glass in the freezer for 5 minutes. A cold glass helps the crushed ice melt more slowly and keeps the finished mojito crisp. While the glass chills, rinse and dry the mint, squeeze the lime juice, and measure the remaining ingredients.

Step 2: Dissolve the sugar

Pour 1 ounce of fresh lime juice into the chilled glass and add 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir with a long spoon for about 20 seconds, or until most of the sugar has dissolved. Dissolving the sugar before adding the ice gives the cocktail an even, gentle sweetness rather than leaving sugar at the bottom of the glass.

Step 3: Gently muddle the mint

Add the 10 mint leaves to the lime mixture. Use a cocktail muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon to press the leaves gently 3 to 4 times. The mint should become fragrant and lightly bruised, but it should not be shredded or mashed into a paste. Over-muddling can release bitter flavors from the leaves and stems.

Step 4: Add the rum and first layer of ice

Pour 2 ounces of white rum into the glass. Add 3/4 cup of the crushed ice, then stir from the bottom upward for 10 seconds. This distributes the mint, lime, sugar, and rum while beginning to chill and lightly dilute the cocktail.

Step 5: Build the sparkling finish

Add the remaining 3/4 cup crushed ice, allowing it to mound slightly above the rim if the glass is full. Slowly pour 2 ounces of chilled club soda or sparkling water over the ice. Give the drink one gentle upward stir to combine it without knocking out too much carbonation.

Step 6: Garnish and serve

Lightly clap the mint sprig once between your palms to release its aroma, then tuck it into the top of the glass beside the lime wheel. Serve the mojito immediately with a straw or long cocktail spoon while the ice is fresh and the sparkling water is lively.

Pro Tips

• Use fresh lime juice: Bottled juice lacks the floral brightness that balances the rum, sugar, and mint.
• Choose healthy mint: Look for vivid green leaves without dark spots or wilted edges. Spearmint provides the familiar mojito flavor.
• Muddle with a light hand: The goal is to release the mint’s aromatic oils, not pulverize the leaves.
• Use superfine sugar when possible: Its smaller crystals dissolve quickly in cold lime juice. Regular granulated sugar also works when stirred thoroughly.
• Keep the sparkling water cold: Well-chilled club soda retains more carbonation and reduces unnecessary ice melt.

Variations

• Strawberry Mojito: Muddle 2 hulled, quartered strawberries with the lime juice and sugar before gently adding the mint.
• Cucumber Mojito: Muddle 3 thin cucumber slices with the lime and sugar for an especially cooling, garden-fresh variation.
• Alcohol-Free Mojito: Replace the 2 ounces of white rum with 2 ounces of a zero-proof cane spirit or additional chilled sparkling water.

Storage & Make-Ahead

A finished mojito is best served immediately because the crushed ice melts quickly and the sparkling water loses its carbonation. For easier preparation, combine the lime juice and sugar up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate it in a covered container at 40°F or below. Keep the mint dry and refrigerated, and do not muddle it until just before serving. Chill the rum, sparkling water, and glasses in advance, but add the crushed ice only when assembling the cocktail. Leftover mixed mojito is not recommended for storage.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 175 kcal | Carbs: 11g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 9g | Sodium: 4mg | Cholesterol: 0mg