Rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and simple syrup are all you need to make this classic Mojito recipe. An absolutely thirst-quenching summer cocktail.
Ah, the Mojito, arguably summer’s most refreshing cocktail.
Maybe it’s the mint and lime or possibly the fizziness of the club soda. Whatever it is, this Mojito recipe is basically all I want on a hot summer evening. Especially now since my lime tree is finally producing big, fat, juicy limes!

On top of all that, the whole thing comes together right in the glass, which means one less cocktail shaker to wash! Yay!
Let’s take a closer look at this classic Cuban cocktail.
what is a mojito?

A lot of people confuse a mojito and a margarita. They both have limes and simple syrup, but that’s about it.
A margarita is a tequila cocktail from Mexico.
A Mojito is one of the classic rum cocktails from Cuba.
According to Cuba, The Cookbook by Madelaine Vázquez Gálvez and Imogene Tondre, it originated in a Havana bar called La Bodeguita del Medio, where Ernest Hemingway was known to enjoy a few.
Some date its invention even further back to a tonic made by African slaves to battle many common diseases of the day.
Wherever it began, the main ingredient has always been fermented sugar cane, aka rum.
what ingredients do you need for this mojito recipe?

The base of any Mojito recipe is white rum.
White rum can be either one of two things: a rum that is unaged or a rum that has been aged in oak barrels and then the color filtered out with charcoal.
A few of my favorites are Havana Club 3 Rum, Banks Rum or Plantation Three Stars.

You will also need:
- fresh mint–a great way to use up all that mint overtaking your garden! Use as much or as little as you like.
- simple syrup (store-bought or homemade). You will need to make this first and let it chill but if you like mixing cocktails I suggest making a big batch and keeping it in your fridge for when the urge strikes.
- lime juice, fresh-squeezed please. Rub the limes back and forth on the counter before cutting to extract the maximum amount of juice.
- soda water or sparkling water. This is for a little fizz. Make sure it is ice cold before topping off the drink.
how to make it!

To make this mojito recipe, we begin by making the simple syrup.
Combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to a simmer, and whisk until the sugar is dissolved.

Let the simple syrup cool completely before mixing in the cocktail. The simple syrup can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
I like to chill the glass next. So grab a tall glass and fill it with ice. Let it cool down while you gather your ingredients.
Now take that glass filled with ice and dump the ice out. Add the mint leaves and simple syrup to the glass and crush the mint using a cocktail muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon—this is how we get all those minty flavors.
Muddling the mint essentially means pressing and twisting it until it is broken into smallish pieces, but not a pulp.

Add the rum, lime juice, and club soda. Stir well with a spoon. Fill the glass with crushed ice, keeping as much mint under the ice as possible.
Top with club soda if you’d like for more bubbles and garnish with a mint sprig and even a lime wedge if you’re feeling fancy.
variation
If you want to make several mojitos over the course of an evening and don’t want to bother with muddling each drink, make mint simple syrup!
Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and heat until the sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add 1 cup of mint leaves, stir those in. Cover and let cool to room temperature. Strain out the mint leaves, cover and chill.
more summer cocktail recipes to try
- The Original Cadillac Margarita
- Fresh Kiwi Caipirinha Recipe
- Cucumber Margarita with Mezcal
- Strawberry Hibiscus Paloma
- Spicy Jalapeño Michelada
- Tequila Libre Cocktail
- Raspberry Jalapeño Margarita
backyard or beach?
I need to know where you sipped your mojito in style! When you try it, please snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, make sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

An Easy and Refreshing Mojito Recipe
Rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and simple syrup are all you need to make this classic Mojito recipe. An absolutely thirst-quenching summer cocktail.
Ingredients
For the simple syrup:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
For the mojito:
- 12 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) simple syrup (see recipe below)
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
- 3 ounces (1/3 cup) white rum
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) club soda or sparkling water
- crushed ice
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Simple syrup will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Muddle the mint. Using a cocktail muddler, muddle the mint and simple syrup in the bottom of a tall glass.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add lime juice and rum and club soda. Stir well then fill the glass with crushed ice, doing your best to keep the mint at the bottom of the glass.
- Enjoy! Top with mint sprig and enjoy.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 626Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 70mgCarbohydrates: 88gFiber: 2gSugar: 51gProtein: 0g
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