Cocktail Atlas

Mojito

White rum, fresh lime, mint and cane sugar, lengthened with soda water over ice. Bright, minty and built in the glass.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Rum
Glass
Highball glass
Method
Built
Difficulty
Beginner

Spec source: IBA official cocktail list

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Mojito

Ingredients

Ingredients for Mojito. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
1½ oz
⅔ oz
6
2 tsp
to top

Steps

  1. Gently muddle the mint with the sugar and lime juice in the glass.
  2. Add a splash of soda water and fill the glass with ice.
  3. Pour in the rum and top with soda water.
  4. Stir lightly to bring everything together, then garnish with mint sprigs and a slice of lime.

Garnish Mint sprigs and a slice of lime

cocktailatlas.com/cocktail/mojito/

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 20 oz · 600 ml before ice.

Mojito batch
AmountIngredient
12 oz · 360 mlWhite rum
5⅓ oz · 160 mlFresh lime juice
48Mint sprigs
2⅔ oz · 80 mlWhite cane sugar

No added water: this drink takes its dilution from the ice in the glass. Chill the batch and build each glass over ice.

Fits one 750 ml bottle; a funnel helps.

Add at serving: to top soda water per glass. Bubbles go flat in a batch, so they stay out of it.

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Why it works

A Mojito layers bright flavors over a light spirit. Muddling the mint gently with sugar and lime releases its oils without tearing the leaves into bitter green bits. The sugar balances the lime, the rum carries both, and soda water lengthens the drink and lifts the mint’s aroma. Lots of ice keeps it cold and slows dilution in the glass.

Substitutions

  • Use ⅔ oz (20 ml) simple syrup in place of the cane sugar if it won’t dissolve easily.
  • Spearmint is the usual mint; peppermint is sharper and more menthol.
  • A lightly aged rum gives a rounder, more vanilla-leaning drink.

Variations

Questions

How hard should mint be muddled?
Gently. Press to release the oils; shredding the leaves makes the drink bitter and fills the glass with bits.
Crushed or cubed ice?
Either works. Crushed ice chills faster and dilutes more; cubes keep the drink stronger for longer.
Can a Mojito be made in a pitcher?
Yes. Muddle mint, sugar and lime in the pitcher, add rum, then add ice and soda just before serving so it stays fizzy.

Making it: Mojito

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