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)

10–12 fresh mint leaves
1 hearty sprig of mint for garnish
1 medium lime, cut into wedges
2 teaspoons white sugar
- Traditional Cuban mojitos use dry sugar, not syrup.
2 oz white rum
- Light-bodied for clarity of flavor.
Club soda (3–4 oz, chilled)
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:

Mint leaves that are glistening with oils
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:

Melts slowly into the rum
Carries mint aroma upward
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:

Gently clap the mint sprig between your palms to release aromatic oils.
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:

Bright
Slightly sweet
Mint-forward
Refreshing, not heavy

⭐ BARTENDER TIPS FOR A PERFECT RESULTS

Add sugar first so it dissolves into lime juice more easily.
Roll the lime before cutting to release more juice.
Do not tear the mint—torn mint becomes bitter.
Use a straw so you smell the mint sprig while drinking.
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:

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:

Strawberry
Mango
Pineapple
Raspberry
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:

60–70 mint leaves
6 limes, cut in wedges
½ cup white sugar
12 oz white rum
3 cups club soda
Crushed ice

Gently muddle lime + mint + sugar in a pitcher, add rum, chill, then add soda right before serving.

OTHER RECIPES

Ingredients Used To Make A Mojito:

* 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.

2. Cut the lime in four pieces and squeeze as much juice as you can get out the lime. This should roughly be 2.0-2.5 oz.

3. Add the raw sugar cane.

4. Use a spoon to mash the ingredients together with the back part of the spoon. Mash it real good so that all the flavors have been introduced to each other prior to the next steps.

5. Add the crushed ice and Bacardi Rum into the glass and stir.

6. Now finish with 2 oz of club soda and stir again...and the Mojito is ready. Very refreshing ! Enjoy it !
How-to-make-a-Mojito: Miami-Mojito.
:

VIDEO:

BASIC CUBAN MOJITO RECIPE

A Cuban mojito is a refreshing, lime-forward, minty rum highball that balances sweetness, citrus, and herbal aromatics. The traditional Cuban method emphasizes gentle muddling, minimal ingredients, and bright flavors without overpowering the mint.

⭐ INGREDIENTS (1 tall glass)

10–12 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish
1 medium lime, cut into 6–8 wedges
2 teaspoons white granulated sugar
- (Or use 1 oz simple syrup, but Cuban mojitos usually use dry sugar.)
2 oz white rum
- Traditional choices: Havana Club 3 Años, Ron Varadero, or any clean, light-bodied rum.
3–4 oz chilled club soda (or sparkling mineral water)
Crushed ice or small cubes

⭐ INSTRUCTIONS (With Detailed Technique)

1. Prepare the glass

Choose a tall highball glass. Mojitos are built directly in the glass to preserve the aromatics and carbonation.

2. Add the mint and sugar

Place the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass. Sprinkle the sugar on top.

The dry sugar helps release mint oils gently.
Do not tear or shred the mint; this makes the drink bitter.

3. Add lime wedges & muddle lightly

Add the lime wedges, placing them cut-side down over the sugar and mint.

Use a muddler to press down 3–5 gentle twists:

Press just enough to release lime juice and mint oils.
Avoid grinding the mint—Cuban mojitos should be crisp and clean, not grassy.

4. Add the rum

Pour the 2 oz white rum directly into the muddled mixture.

Stir or swish the glass gently to dissolve some of the sugar.

5. Add ice and club soda

Fill the glass almost to the top with crushed ice. Crushed ice melts faster and carries the mint’s aroma upward.
Top with cold club soda, leaving room for stirring.

6. Mix and finish

Insert a long spoon and gently lift the mint and lime from the bottom so flavors circulate evenly.
Top off with more ice or soda if needed.

7. Garnish

Add a fresh mint sprig, slapping it lightly between your palms first to release aromatic oils.

Serve immediately with a straw.

⭐ TIPS FOR A TRUE CUBAN-STYLE MOJITO

Use only fresh mint — spearmint or yerba buena (the Cuban variety) is ideal.
White rum is essential for that crisp, clean flavor.
Sugar, not syrup, is the traditional Cuban method, giving a light texture.
Avoid over-muddling — the biggest mistake people make.
Use crushed ice for more flavor diffusion and colder temperature.

⭐ OPTIONAL VARIATIONS

1. Sweetness Variations

Swap white sugar for raw cane sugar for deeper flavor.
Use honey syrup (½ honey + ½ warm water) for a floral twist.

2. Fruity Mojitos

Gently muddle fruit with the mint. Popular options:

Strawberry Mojito
Pineapple Mojito
Mango Mojito
Coconut Mojito (add 0.5 oz coconut cream)

3. Sparkling Water Options

Swap club soda for sparkling mineral water for more minerality.
Use tonic water for a sweeter, slightly bitter profile.

4. Stronger / Lighter Versions

Stronger: Add +½ oz rum and reduce soda.
Lighter: Reduce rum to 1 oz and add more soda.

⭐ SIMPLE BATCH METHOD (Serves 6)

Perfect for parties.

60–70 mint leaves
6 limes, cut in wedges
½ cup sugar
12 oz white rum
3 cups club soda
Crushed ice

Mix in a large pitcher, muddle gently, add rum, chill, then add soda just before serving.

OTHER RECIPES

How To Make a Mojito
Ingredients

3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda

How To Make A Mojito INSTRUCTIONS

In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside.

Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly.

Top with ice.

Add rum and mix.

Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer).

Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve.
How To Make a Mojito VIDEO"