This mojito recipe is simply the best. Read the comments to see what I mean!! Then try it and let me know what you think.
I tried my first mojito one warm summer evening last summer when a neighbor invited us over and made a mojito with simple syrup and homegrown mint. It was fantastic. How have I lived 28 years without a mojito????
I asked him for his mojito recipe a few weeks ago, but he is a professional chef, so he was all, “It’s nothing! Just throw together simple syrup, lime, and rum.”
Um, hi. Have you met me? I need VERY. EXPLICIT. DIRECTIONS. Like with measurements.
So I took it upon myself to experiment with different mojito recipes until I found one as good as his. It took me three recipes and numerous tries to get it right. See what I endure for the sake of ye ole blog?
Here’s the secret: MINT-INFUSED simple syrup. Shhhhhh… they’ll all be doing it. Sorry, I was channeling my inner Emeril there for a sec.
Simple Syrup
Mix 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a saucepan and heat until boiling. This is what it looks like before the sugar dissolved.
Stir until the sugar dissolves (about a minute). Then turn off the heat. Toss in a handfull of mint leaves and let it steep (just sit there off the heat) for an hour or so. Strain out the leaves and store in the fridge till you’re ready to use it.
The Best Mojito Recipe
Here is all you need for the perfect mojitos: mint-infused simple syrup, white rum, fresh mint, limes and I highly recommend a muddler. Club soda is optional; sometimes I just use water.
Then when you’re ready for a refreshing summer drink, here’s what you do.
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 handful mint leaves
- 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of light rum
- 1/2 lime
- 1 can club soda (optional)
- Mix 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a saucepan and heat until boiling.
- Stir until the sugar dissolves (about a minute). Then turn off the heat.
- Toss in a handfull of mint leaves and let it steep (just sit there off the heat) for an hour or so. Strain out the leaves and store in the fridge till you’re ready to use it. (YOU WILL NOT USE THIS ENITRE AMOUNT in the recipe. Save any leftover for future use. Simple syrup stores in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.)
- Pour 1 ounce mint-infused simple syrup into a tall glass.
- Add a handful of mint leaves, and muddle it together. (Use a [muddler|http://amzn.to/PZZZsu] or a spoon.)
- Add crushed ice. Muddle some more.
- Add to that 1-1/2 to 2 ounces of light rum (depending on the kind of day you had.)
- Squeeze in the juice of half a lime.
- Add a splash of club soda and stir. (If you don’t have club soda on hand, just use water.)
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a slice of lime.
If you want to make a larger batch, it basically boils down to this: (Oh, I’m so punny!) Mix thoroughly 2 parts simple syrup to 1 part lime (or more if you like your drinks more tart than sweet) to 3 parts rum. Pour in a tall glass over ice, add a splash of club soda, garnish with mint and lime, and serve!
Yes, I realize that mojitos aren’t intended to be made in bulk. But if you want to make a few at a time, I won’t turn you in to the mojito police.
Love this mojito recipe??? Check out my other popular cocktail recipe posts!
Don’t miss a post!
Subscribe to get email updates! In addition to my most recent blog posts, you’ll receive exclusive newsletter content like special sales, my newest favorite finds, and an occasional peek behind the scenes — all delivered right to your inbox. Don’t miss it!
Made these and they were delicious. Now trying again but scrutinizing instructions more – do t remember what I did. When do you add the mint to the simple syrup? Your instructions say after the water has boiled and sugar has dissolved, yet your picture shows mint in with undisolved sugar?
I put the mint in after the sugar dissolves. Turn the heat off. Add mint. Let sit for an hour off the heat. Then use in drink or refrigerate till you make the drink. Make sense?
Hey Ms. Shane, quick question. Should I use the mint leaves that have been steeped when making the actual dring or should I use a new batch of leaves? Thank you for the post.
I discard the mint leaves from the steeping and use fresh in the drinks. Enjoy!
I was just wondering what a ‘muddle’ is – is a spoon involved? Is it similar to ‘slosh’? or maybe swirl. Good hot day today here in Colorado – I think one of your mojitos is going to be tested this afternoon.
A muddler is a kitchen tool that helps you grind up the mint. Here is an example:
http://amzn.to/PZZZsu
Does it matter what kind of mint you use?
Can you use meadow tea?
I don’t find that it matters. 🙂 Let me know how it turns out!
Came across your Mojito recipe and am anxious to try it. I’ve been making Mojitos for maybe 15 years from a recipe that came with a Mojito cocktail drink set. The only change that I’ve made to that recipe is what I think makes this Mojitos one of the best. The change was substituting tonic for soda. Takes the Mojito from bland to exceptional. My recipe also calls for a good 3-4 oz of rum, a whole lime, no water(?), two Tblsp of sugar, 12-15 mint leaves muddled w/sugar, crushed ice, topped off with a couple of oz. of tonic then shaken not stirred. This is all made up in a tall 12oz. glass. Try it……
Had my first mojito at a thai restaurant last night and if they weren’t $15 Aust a pop, could still be there now drinking them….also if i didnt have 2 little boys to tend to. Thanks for this delish recipe…i am making syrup tonight
What can I replace rum with!!! Because in the Middle East and Asia rum is prohibited
I’m sorry, I don’t know! 🙁
Try Tequila… which is my fav– I make the simple sugar as Jo-Lynn said….for a single drink use 1.5 shots of tequila, use about 4 oz of the simple sugar, add a lime, a splash of club soda and about 7 ice cubes, blend until it is like a slushie– pour and garnish like she has shown with lime and mint…( use an umbrella thingy if you totally want to fake a vacation ) I squeeze a little more lime on top ( the scent of mint and lime is awesome)
Now you will not get much done for the rest of the day, but with this yummy drink you won’t care.. in fact you will be HAPPILY defiant about not getting anything done. See win /win.
I luv you guys. serirsly. I meen it… (deep sigh of total relaxation ) yay me !
I can’t wait to try this, had an excellent one at one restaurant. Everything has been watery since then. Whoo hoo!
The mojito is my specialty, I usually use 7up instead of simple syrup because I am lazy, but I will try this. I find the difference in an average mojito and a good one is to muddle the lime peels and mint in the rum. Both mint and lime have essential oils which dissolve very well in alcohol (polar) and not water (nonpolar). Give that a shot or two.
Thanks for the tip!
Try your mojitos with Oronoco white rum. I’m a bartender at a high-end cocktail lounge/speakeasy and of all the white rums I have ever tried for a mojito… this one is, hands down, the BEST!
Here’s an online description and review from another gent who agrees: http://rumdood.com/2008/01/30/rum-review-oronoco/
Very cool!!! I will check it out.
Personally I find it rather sad for you to use Bacardi rum in the cocktail since there are so much better rum brands on the market. For my favourite mojito I use Mount Gay Rum – it’s much more easier and interesting to your taste buds 🙂
oooh this sounds AWEsome.
I enjoyed my best Mojito ever in Granada, Spain at Moorish quarters the web of small streets serving mostly waterpipes and tiny oversugared tea glasses with milk.
That very special Mohito was served in Margarita glass (wide open ending type). Drink was almost fully trasparrent with some small ice particles barely visible in it and had a slightly blueish tone and some pulp of lime felt by taste only. At +25C warm night it was served ice cold which added much to the relief to us, tourists.
It was so elegantly different from typical crushed ice stomped with mint that I was just fully enjoying it, wondering.
Tonight is my wife’s birthday and I’ll be making my first mojito in a minute following mostly by your recipe but leaving out the crushed mint added at the end. I’ll call it Granada style. Lets see how it goes!
good luck!
This recipe is amazing! Total hit of my party. These might be the next best mojitos I’ve ever had.
YAY! So glad you enjoyed them.
so 4 years after this initial post and this recipe is still going strong! i just made it for myself and my boyfriend a couple of minutes ago and this recipe is delish!! i added a whole lime to each of mine (i love the citrusy taste of lots-o-lime in my mojitos) so tasty! thanks for sharing! i’m excited to use the leftover mint simple syrup in other things too (like iced tea, yum!). i work in a community garden as an environmental educator and we have tons of mint to spare and i know how i’m gonna be using it the rest of this summer! haha 🙂
thanks again!
j
Love, love mojitos.. they are my go-to beverage in the summer. The husband even grows mint for me. I’ll tell you a couple of my secrets that I use from time to time.. instead of regular club soda, try them using Le Croix lime… extra little kick.. yum!! And if you want to make it a “skinny” mojito use Sprite zero as a substitue for the simple syrup and soda water.
I’ve never had one in my life, but I must try!
Thanks you Lynne .
Today I am in a mood of Mojito but then, I had forgotten the recipe. This article helps. I am gonna run to the groceries right now !!
By the way, I like you writing style. Yes you are punny !
Thanks,
Deepak
You were not kidding. This IS the best mojito recipe ever!
I made mojitos several years ago and they were horrible. I have been meaning to try them again with a different recipe of course. Well…. I just did and your recipe is nothing like the one I tried. I do think it was the simple syrup infused with the mint that made them so amazing!!! I’m on my second one and felt the need to thank you. Thank you! Thank you! I may put my wine aside for a while and make this my new drink. I have some recipes with fruit added which I will probably experiment with but this will be the foundation of my drink.
YAY! I never get tired of hearing this. 🙂 ENJOY!
Hot time in the summer in the south – making a batch this evening after work! Thanks for the recipe and cheers!
Hi, love the recipe, I have a big 10 litre drinks dispenser and I want to make your Mojito for my wedding during cocktail hour. What amount of everything should i use for 10 litres?
Thankyou
You just saved my Friday afternoon. It’s like 100 degrees in the shade and I have some mint simple syrup on the stove as we speak. Thank you! Great blog. Following you on FB, Instagram and Bloglovin’ as well now!
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
Hi Lisa! I hope you enjoyed it!
well isn’t that just a coincidence that I happen to have a Mint Simple Syrup already in my refrigerator!!! Must be fate!!!!! 🙂
oooh looks so yummy had to pin it for later,,…. but wait …. what do I see? that cool print option…. even better! cant wait to mix some up!
LOL, Brenda. Glad you were able to print it off. Enjoy!!!
So glad you mentioned this in today’s Coffee Talk! Mint infused simple syrup = genius!
It makes ALL the difference!
Sweet. I added ginger ale and bitters to mine and it floored me. The best drink ever. I can’t get enough.
I think I’m going to tinker around with the simple syrup. Try it with different things, like Marciano Cherries, Fresh Ginger, Lemon, Orange, Pineapple. Maybe even Mango or Jolly Rancher candies.
Perfect right now for this hot Southern California weather. : )
Add a shot of Limoncello too. Smooth!
So it isn’t strained? You drink the muddled mint?
You sort of drink around it, but sometimes you drink some. I’ve had them that way at restaurants before. That said, you can always strain it if you don’t like it. In fact, when i’m lazy, I don’t muddle any at all. I just garnish with mint and call it a day. The mint infused simple syrup has enough mint flavor.
My husband and I love Mojitos they are our go to cocktail in summer… thanks for recipe!
My husband and I love Mojitos they are our go to cocktail in summer..thanks for recipe
This IS the best mojito recipe ever but I make one change. Instead of club soda I use prosecco and everyone loves it!
That sounds amazing… totally trying that!
When I make Simple Syrup for my Mojitos I typically make quite a lot. One Cup Purified or Distilled Water, One Cup of freshly squeezed Lime Juice and Lime zest from half a Lime, then 2 Cups of White Granulated Sugar. Bring to a complete rolling boil for 2 minutes, stirring to make sure all the Sugar crystals are dissolved. Turn off the burner and add One Cup of bruised Fresh Mint. Stir well. Steep until completely cooled to room temperature. Strain in 2 layers of cheese cloth to remove all traces of Mint and Lime Zest. Bottle and cap it tightly. Refrigerate. *Because of the acid of the Lime Juice, this Syrup lasts for months. After pouring from the bottle, thoroughly clean the rim and rinse the cap, otherwise Sugar Crystals can form and make the bottle difficult to open* ENJOY!
I love Mojitos but am usually disappointed when I make them at home. Your recipe sounded good (& easy) so I made a pitcher for Memorial Day & it was a hit!!! Muddled some sugar and lime before pouring & they tasted like they were individually made. So glad I have mint in my herb garden 🙂
Thank you for this delicious recipe!