Mojito is an enticing cocktail as one of the most popular Cuban highballs to have especially when you're on vacation. It's also very simple to build for those who can't make it to the nearest bar. One simply needs to muddle some mint leaves with sugar and lime juice in a Collins glass, then fill it up with ice, pour in a quarter cup of rum and top it off with some club soda. Like most cocktails, the mojito is also quite versatile as it can serve as the starting point for other cocktails with just a few simple adjustments to its formula. By now, anyone who loves cocktails has probably encountered a few variations to this popular Cuban high ball at the bar.

Making a mojito is as pretty straightforward as it is faithful to the classic cocktail recipe and will include some simple variations to boot. It's also somewhat safe to enjoy considering it's low alcohol content. However, whenever you're on the road, always remember to drink responsibly and you will come away from this drinking cocktail with fond memories every time.

The recipe

Ingredients:

  • 8-10 mint leaves
  • 2 tsp sugar or simple syrup
  • 1 lime
  • Ice, crushed or cubed for filling
  • 2 oz white rum
  • Club Soda for topping off
  • 1 mint sprig for garnish

Equipment:

  • Collins glass or Highball glass
  • Muddler
  • Stirring spoon
  • Straw

The directions

  1. Put the mint leaves and the sugar or simple syrup in the Collins glass. Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice from both halves into the glass.
  2. Muddle the leaves in the syrup well but don't tear them. Place one of the halves into the glass.
  3. Fill the glass with crushed ice or ice cubes and the white rum. Cover with club soda but don't not to the very top. Insert the stirring spoon in the cneter of the glass and give a few twirls.
  4. Insert a straw leaning on the inside of the glass and garnish with the mint sprig. Serve.

Variations

As mentioned before, a classic Mojito can be the starting point for other cocktails thanks to some tweaks done to its recipe and there have been a lot of variations over the years.

Here are some fun variations to try out.

  • Pineapple mint - Substitute pineapple mint leaves for the mint leaves. Substitute pineapple rum for the white rum.
  • Spiced - Substitute spiced rum (preferably Chairman's Reserve or Bayou) for the white rum.
  • Dark - Substitute brown sugar for the sugar or simple syrup. Substitute dark rum for the white rum.
  • Coconut - Substitute coconut rum (preferably Malibu or Blue Chair) for the white rum.
  • Mango - Substitute mango rum (preferably Malibu or Cruzan) for the white rum.
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