A classic mojito is a Cuban cocktail made with white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, granulated sugar, and club soda. It’s a traditional no-shake drink that comes together in about 5 minutes and is one of our go-to summer cocktails. Our version skips the simple syrup and muddling in a shaker. Instead, everything gets made in the glass, so all you need is a muddler and a spoon.
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If you love mojitos, we have one for every season. Our cranberry mojito is a fall and winter staple, our strawberry basil mojito adds a fresh herbal twist, and our watermelon mojito is exactly what we drink during peak watermelon season.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Just six ingredients stand between you and a great mojito, and quality matters more than technique here.
The complete ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- White Rum: The backbone of the drink. A clean, medium-bodied white rum works best, something with a little character but not so funky it fights the mint and lime. We personally like Planteray 3 Stars Rum.
- Fresh Mint: Dried mint won’t work here. Look for spearmint, the traditional choice, which has a sweeter, less medicinal flavor than peppermint.
- Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar is the classic sweetener for a traditional mojito, and it actually works better here than simple syrup. The granules act as a mild abrasive, helping break down the mint as you muddle, and you can taste and adjust the sweetness before adding the rum.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Squeeze your limes fresh. One medium lime yields about ¾ oz of juice, which is exactly what you need per cocktail.
- Club Soda: Plain club soda or sparkling water, not tonic, which is bitter and sweetened. Add it last and stir gently to keep the bubbles intact.
How to Make a Classic Mojito without Simple Syrup
Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.
Pro-tip: Muddle the mint with the sugar 5 to 10 times until very fragrant. The leaves should look bruised but not completely broken down.
1. Muddle the Mint: In a sturdy, heavy-bottomed tall cocktail glass, add the sugar and 5 of the mint sprigs, reserving the sixth for garnish. Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, press and twist 5 to 10 times until the mint is very fragrant and the sugar has absorbed the oils from the leaves.
2. Add the Rum and Lime: Pour in the white rum and fresh lime juice. Gently stir a few times to help dissolve the sugar into the liquid, then fill the glass with ice.
3. Top with Club Soda: Pour the club soda over the ice and stir gently in a circular motion to combine. Use your spoon to drag some of the muddled mint higher up into the glass so it’s distributed throughout the drink.
4. Taste and Garnish: Taste the drink and add a small pinch more sugar if needed. Clap the reserved mint sprig between your palms to release the oils, then tuck it into the glass alongside a lime round. Serve cold with a wide straw.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Muddle in the glass, not a shaker. This recipe builds directly in the serving glass, which means the mint stays in the drink where it belongs. You get more aroma with every sip, and you skip the extra equipment.
- Use granulated sugar, not powdered. Powdered sugar dissolves too quickly and doesn’t provide the light abrasion that helps break down the mint.
- Clap your mint garnish. Before placing the reserved sprig on the glass, give it a sharp slap between your palms. It takes 1 second and makes a noticeable difference in the finished drink’s aroma.
- Adjust the sweetness before adding ice. Stir the rum, lime, and muddled mint together and taste before filling the glass with ice. It’s much easier to add a pinch more sugar at that point than to do it after everything is built.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
Looking for more mojito recipes? Try these other favorites:
- Cranberry Mojito – Tart cranberry juice and fresh mint make this one a fall and winter holiday go-to.
- Strawberry Basil Mojito – A seasonal riff on the classic with muddled strawberries and fresh basil that’s perfect all summer long.
- Watermelon Mojito – Fresh watermelon flavor in every sip, this version uses frozen watermelon cubes in place of ice, so the drink never gets watered down.
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Classic Mojito Recipe
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Equipment
- Muddler
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- 6 sprigs fresh mint
- 2 ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
- ice
- club soda or sparkling water
- lime, for garnish
Instructions
- In a sturdy, heavy-bottomed tall cocktail glass, add the sugar and 5 sprigs of mint, reserving 1 sprig for garnish. Muddle the mint with sugar 5 to 10 times until very fragrant. Avoid over-muddling. You want the leaves aromatic, not completely broken down.
- Pour in the rum and lime juice. Gently stir a few times to help dissolve the sugar.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Top off with club soda. Gently stir in a circular motion to combine, then use your spoon to drag some of the muddled mint higher up into the glass.
- Taste and add a touch more sugar if desired.
- Garnish with the lime round and the reserved mint sprig. Clap it between your palms first to release the oils. Serve cold with a wide straw.
