Classic Mojito
A good mojito should be cold, aromatic, and lively—not packed with crushed mint or overwhelmed by sugar.
Legal drinking age · Enjoy responsiblyMake it like a pro.
- 01
Add mint, lime juice, and sugar to a tall glass. Press gently three or four times—do not shred the mint.
- 02
Add the rum and half the crushed ice, then stir from the bottom until the glass feels cold.
- 03
Top with the remaining ice and soda water. Stir once and garnish with a mint sprig.
Tools for This Recipe
Helpful equipment for making this recipe at home.
A focused two-piece set for gently pressing herbs and stirring drinks.
View on AmazonCitrus pressChef’n FreshForce Citrus JuicerChef’nA handheld press for extracting fresh lemon, lime, and orange juice.
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Easy swaps
- Use one teaspoon sugar for a drier mojito with about half the added sugar.
- Replace sugar with a zero-calorie sweetener that dissolves well in cold liquid.
- Use aged rum for a deeper, less traditional variation.
Mixpert tips
- Slap the mint garnish between your palms to release aroma.
- Gentle muddling avoids bitter, torn mint.
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Classic Mojito FAQs
Can I use bottled lime juice in a mojito?
You can, but fresh lime is especially noticeable beside mint and soda water. Bottled lime juice varies in acidity and may taste flatter. Start with a little less than the measured fresh juice, then adjust before adding rum and ice. The written balance assumes fresh lime.
Should mint be muddled in a mojito?
Press it very gently just a few times. Aggressive muddling tears the leaves and can make the drink bitter.
What kind of rum is used in a mojito?
A clean white rum is traditional because it lets the fresh lime and mint remain prominent.
Can I make a mojito without rum?
Omitting rum leaves a mint-lime soda, but the proportions here were balanced around white rum. For a complete alcohol-free drink, use our virgin mojito, which adds cucumber and a measured amount of agave. It has its own recipe and nutrition information.
See our Virgin Mojito Mocktail recipe →