The Classic Mojito

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The Classic Mojito

Mojito must be undoubtedly the most ordered cocktails in the world. A sip of this minty, zesty drink has an ability to transport you to a sun-drenched beach or on a holiday in an instant. Given that its name derives from ‘mojo’ an African word meaning to cast a spell, it is not surprising that there is something a little bit magical about drinking Mojito.

It is not a complicated drink—some people might even dismiss it as an ‘entry-level’ cocktail—but the perfect combination of rum, lime, mint, and sugar must be balanced to give it justice.

I love a mojito and have often judged a bartender’s expertise by their Mojito making skills. Too much or less ice, too much lime, not enough sugar, too much muddling- you get the gist. A classic mojito is made with rum (traditionally white), sugar, lime, mint, ice and soda water, served in a highball glass. As I said before the key to making a perfect Mojito is balance as each ingredient is there for a reason and they should work in harmony and complement each other.

I know lots of people use sugar syrup while making Mojito, but I am a traditionalist and still use the crystalline sugar. I usually follow a simple rule of 1:1:2 ratio – Lime: sugar: rum. There are countless versions and modifications on the original Mojito, nothing quite matches the refreshing blend of citrus, sugar, and mint that you will find in this classic recipe. The combination of herbaceous mint, tart lime, and fizzy soda water is so refreshing. I love how pretty it is too. If you ask me, there’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day. Just give it some love and care while making. Cheers!

Ingredients

7-8 mint leaves with stem
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice
½ lime cut in wedges
50ml rum
Soda/lemonade to top up
2-3 mint leaves (optional)

Directions

Step-1

Take the sugar in a glass. Add the mint and lime juice. Use a muddler to grind the stem of the mint and the leaves. Do this until the stem is limp and sugar is dissolved.

Step-2

Add the lime wedges and give a gentle press/muddle.

Add the rum, and a large handful of ice and stir. Top up with soda water and gently stir.

Serve chilled!

Tips & Variations

I always squeeze the lime juice from the wedges I use in the mojito. The reason is that some limes can be very juicy and the gentle press and stirring makes the lime wedges release lime juice into the mojito making it more citrusy. I prefer to have control over the proportions of 1:1:2 to get the perfect balance.
If you prefer citrusy mojito then just use the wedges without extracting the juice.
I like to gently muddle the lime wedges as it releases the oils from the lime skin giving a fresh citrusy flavour. However, it is important to not over muddle as it will make the mojito bitter.
The mint adds a delicious smell to this drink. To release the aromatic oil from the leaves they need to be gently muddled. If you are worried about making the drink bitter, then place the leaves in your hand and press them together to release the oils.
I would highly recommend using crushed ice while making Mojito. I have in the past made it with cubes and somehow it does not taste as great.
I sometimes add a pinch of salt to balance the flavours. It elevates the complexity of the flavours.
There are different varieties of mint available in the market and the type of mint makes a huge difference to the mojito. I prefer spearmint or any other mild variety of mint.
To give a fruity flavour to the mojito put some strawberries, blueberries, or peaches in with the mint and muddle everything together.
While rum is the best option for this drink, if you are all out you can substitute the rum with vodka or gin.
You can also turn this mojito recipe into a frozen drink. Combine mint, sugar, lime juice and rum in a blender, blending until smooth. Then add the ice (about 1 cup per drink) and blend until it reaches your desired consistency. Add a splash of soda and frozen mojito is ready!
I prefer making this drink individually instead of big pitchers as you can tailor make it according to your taste.