What exactly is a mojito, and how do you make one? Excellent question, fellow cocktail enthusiast. A mojito is a refreshing, minty cocktail that originates from Cuba. It's made with rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, and sparkling water. And while that sounds like a mouthful, it's one of the easier cocktails to mix while making you look like a pro muddling the ingredients. Ready to learn how to make a mojito? Scroll down for our quick and easy mojito recipe.
What type of mint is in a mojito?
So what makes a mojito so special? The key ingredient is mint, which not only gives the mojito its refreshing flavor, but also its bright green color. There are over 600 varieties of mint, but the two most common types used in mojitos are spearmint and peppermint. Spearmint is more mild, with a sweetness to it, while peppermint is more strong and has a cooling sensation. It's certainly a thing of personal preference, but when we're making a mojito we use spearmint.
What type of alcohol is in a mojito?
The mojito is traditionally made with rum, which is a distilled alcohol made from sugarcane. There are different types of rum, but the most common type used in mojitos is white rum. White rum is clear and has a milder flavor than dark rum, which makes it a perfect choice for this cocktail. If you don't want to use rum, vodka can be used as a replacement.
Do you shake a mojito cocktail?
This is an issue of debate, with many bartenders insisting to not shake mojitos lest you bruise the delicate mint leaves (which you just muddled....) and release bitterness from them. We disagree! Given the addition of lime into this cocktail, shaking releases the full flavor of the citrus in ways a simple stir cannot. As you're remember from our previous post about the golden rules for when to shake and when to stir cocktails, the presence of citrus is a clear indicator that this mojito could be benefited by a good shake. We may be refused service next time we walk into a cocktail bar, but we insist mojitos taste better shaken than stirred!
What does it mean to muddle a cocktail?
Muddling is a bartending technique used to release the flavors of fruits, herbs and spices in a cocktail. To muddle something simply means to press or crush it with a tool, such as a muddler or the back of a spoon. For mojitos, muddling mint leaves releases their oils and fragrance into the drink. This is what gives mojitos their refreshing flavor.
OK, now how do you make a mojito?
Yes, yes, the recipe - right! Read on for our go-to mojito recipe.
Mojito Cocktail Ingredients (Makes 2 Cocktails)
- Mint leaves - 10
- Lime wedges - 2
- Cane sugar - 1 tbsp
- White rum (optional) - 4 shots
- Club soda
Instructions
- Add the mint leaves, one lime wedge, and cane sugar into a glass or cocktail shaker.
2. Muddle these ingredients together
3. Add sugar, one more lime wedge, and white rum if you'd like the mojito be be alcoholic and shake well.
4. Pour into a glass, top with club soda, and stir.
