
How to Make a Great Mojito
A truly great mojito is all about balance—minty aroma, bright lime, gentle sweetness, crisp rum, and lively bubbles. The key is technique, not just the ingredients.
Below is an expanded, detailed version that walks you through everything you need to know.
⭐ INGREDIENTS (1 Drink)
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10–12 fresh mint leaves
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1 hearty sprig of mint for garnish
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1 medium lime, cut into wedges
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2 teaspoons white sugar
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Traditional Cuban mojitos use dry sugar, not syrup.
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2 oz white rum
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Light-bodied for clarity of flavor.
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Club soda (3–4 oz, chilled)
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Crushed ice (preferred) or small cubes
⭐ STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Choose the right glass and prep ingredients
Select a tall highball glass, at least 12–14 oz.
Wash your mint, slice your lime, and have ice ready.
Cold ingredients make a fresher, brighter drink.
2. Add mint and sugar to the glass
Place the mint leaves at the bottom of the glass.
Sprinkle the 2 teaspoons of sugar over the mint.
This layering helps the sugar pull out mint oils gently.
3. Add lime wedges
Place the lime wedges on top of the mint and sugar, cut-side down.
This traps the mint under the limes so it isn’t crushed too aggressively.
4. Muddle gently—this step is crucial
Use a muddler and press with slow, firm, downward pressure.
Turn the muddler slightly with each press.
Aim for:
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Mint leaves that are glistening with oils
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Lime wedges that release juice but don’t shred the mint
Over-muddling = bitter, grassy mojito.
Gentle muddling = fragrant, smooth mojito.
5. Add the rum
Pour in 2 oz of white rum.
Stir or swirl the glass to dissolve more sugar and release lime oils into the rum.
6. Add crushed ice
Fill the glass nearly to the top.
Crushed ice is best because it:
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Melts slowly into the rum
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Carries mint aroma upward
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Keeps the drink cold without diluting too fast
7. Top with club soda
Pour chilled club soda over the ice.
Add 3–4 oz depending on how strong you like your mojito.
Chilled soda helps retain carbonation.
8. Final mix
Use a long spoon to lift the mint and lime from the bottom of the glass.
This blends the flavors without destroying the carbonation.
Do not stir aggressively—just a couple upward pulls.
9. Garnish and serve
Add a fresh mint sprig on top.
Pro bartender trick:
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Gently clap the mint sprig between your palms to release aromatic oils.
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Slide it next to the straw so each sip carries scent.
Serve immediately.
⭐ WHAT MAKES A MOJITO GREAT?
1. Fresh mint
Spearmint or Cuban yerba buena is best.
Avoid mint that is bruised, wilted, or overly strong.
2. The right rum
White rum keeps flavors clean.
Aged rum makes it darker and heavier.
3. Controlled muddling
The mint should never be “mashed” into pulp.
You’re extracting aroma, not juice.
4. Cold ingredients
Warm soda kills carbonation; warm rum tastes harsh.
5. Crushed ice
Better flavor release + better presentation.
6. Balance
A mojito should be:
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Bright
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Slightly sweet
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Mint-forward
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Refreshing, not heavy
⭐ BARTENDER TIPS FOR A PERFECT RESULTS
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Add sugar first so it dissolves into lime juice more easily.
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Roll the lime before cutting to release more juice.
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Do not tear the mint—torn mint becomes bitter.
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Use a straw so you smell the mint sprig while drinking.
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Keep proportions consistent—too much lime can overpower mint; too much sugar makes it syrupy.
⭐ COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
❌ Over-muddling mint (turns bitter)
❌ Using brown or dark sugar unless you want a heavier flavor
❌ Using flat soda
❌ Using too much lime juice (makes it harsh)
❌ Adding soda before ice (dilutes instantly)
⭐ OPTIONAL VARIATIONS (LONGER SECTION)
1. Sweeter Mojito
Add simple syrup instead of sugar:
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1 oz simple syrup = smoother sweetness + easier mixing.
2. Dry Mojito (Less Sweet)
Use 1 teaspoon sugar and more club soda.
3. Fruity Mojitos
Add 2–3 pieces of fruit before muddling:
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Strawberry
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Mango
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Pineapple
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Raspberry
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Kiwi
These add color and mild sweetness.
4. Coconut Mojito
Add 0.5 oz coconut cream or splash coconut water.
5. Spiced Mojito
Muddle a small sliver of ginger or add a cinnamon stick.
6. Frozen Mojito
Blend all ingredients with 1 cup of crushed ice into a slushy.
⭐ QUICK BATCH RECIPE FOR PARTIES (LARGE FORMAT)
For 6 drinks:
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60–70 mint leaves
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6 limes, cut in wedges
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½ cup white sugar
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12 oz white rum
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3 cups club soda
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Crushed ice
Gently muddle lime + mint + sugar in a pitcher, add rum, chill, then add soda right before serving.
* 2.5 oz Bacardi Rum
* 1 Lime
* 2.0-2.5 oz of lime juice (squeezed out of the lime)
* 2.5 oz club soda
* 5 mint leaves
* 2 teaspoons of raw sugar cane
* Crushed ice
How To Make A Mojito:
1. Put the mint leaves into a highball glass which will become the basis for making this drink.
How-to-make-a-Mojito: Miami-Mojito.
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