A classic mojito is the perfect drink to cool off on a hot summer day. Make your own in 10 minutes with this easy recipe.
Mojitos have always been Justin’s favorite drink. Recently, he has been trying a few different varieties. But nothing beats a classic mojito recipe when you are looking for a cool, refreshing drink.
The weather has been so hot here lately, and we need a way to beat the heat. Mint grows extremely well in our garden, so we use our own mint for a fresh taste. Mix that with a few limes and other ingredients, and you have a classic mojito! You can also add other fruit for a different flavor. But mint and lime make it a classic.
Use 7Up as your base soda for the drink for the best flavor. We have tried a few different ones, and this works better than anything else. I’m pretty sure a traditional mojito is made with soda water, but that doesn’t have a lot of flavor. At least, not in our opinion.
History of the Classic Cocktail
While the origins of the mojito are debated, it’s believed to have originated in Havana, Cuba, and the 16th century. The earliest form of the drink was called “El Draque” after Sir Francis Drake. He was an English explorer who visited Havana in the late 1500s. Supposedly, his physician made the first cocktail when he mixed mint leaves with a crude form of rum, lime juice, and sugar to create the beverage. It was said to cure scurvy and dysentery among the ship’s crew. It’s also been said that Ernest Hemingway often visited a bar in Havana and enjoyed this classic rum cocktail.
While it was originally consumed for medicinal purposes, now you’ll find a pitcher of mojitos at many summertime events.
Why this cocktail works
The appeal of the mojito lies in the bright, herbal aroma of fresh mint paired with sharp lime juice, sweet sugar or syrup, and clean white rum, all topped with bubbly soda. The mint oils provide fragrance and a cooling sensation, the lime juice adds tang and lift, and the sugar balances the acidity for a smooth finish. Topped with fizzy soda, this Cuban-born drink becomes light, refreshing, and perfect for warm weather or relaxed gatherings. The combination of sweet, tart, and herbal notes creates a refreshing cocktail that is incredibly satisfying and easy to sip.
Technique matters — how to muddle and mix like a pro
The key to a great mojito is treating the mint and lime gently. Place mint leaves and lime wedges at the bottom of the glass, then use a muddler or the back of a spoon to lightly press and twist just until the mint releases its oils. Avoid over-muddling, which can make the drink taste bitter and grassy. Add sugar or syrup and rum, then stir to combine. Fill the glass with ice and top with soda just before serving. If preparing in advance, combine the mint, lime, sweetener, and rum ahead of time and add the soda at the last moment so you keep that refreshing fizz.
Serving size, make-ahead, and crowd-friendly tips
For entertaining, it’s easy to make mojitos in a pitcher. Multiply your single-drink measurements by six to eight, gently muddle the mint and lime in the pitcher, add rum and sweetener, and refrigerate until needed. Add plenty of ice and the soda right before serving to preserve carbonation. Stir before pouring and taste to adjust the sweetness or lime level if needed. If the mixture sits too long, the mint and lime oils can intensify, so adding fresh mint leaves or lime slices when serving helps keep flavors balanced and bright.
Variations and a non-alcoholic version
Mojitos are wonderfully versatile. Try muddling berries such as strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries for a fruit-forward twist. Citrus lovers can mix in grapefruit or orange slices, or add a splash of pineapple juice for a tropical touch. To introduce a deeper note, replace a small portion of the white rum with aged rum. For a refreshing mocktail, skip the rum, increase the lime juice slightly, and top with club soda or sparkling water. A mint-infused simple syrup also boosts herbal flavor while keeping the drink smooth.
Mojito Ingredients
Mint Leaves
By using a fresh sprig of mint, or fresh mint leaves, you can add that minty fresh flavor to your drink. When muddling the mint, you’ll release the mint oils into the glass.
Lime
Fresh limes are cut into quarters for the best lime flavors. If you don’t have fresh limes to cut, you can use bottled lime juice, but the flavor won’t be as strong.
White Rum
The best rum for this drink is a light rum. Since it was originally made in Cuba, many places will use Cuban rum, but that isn’t necessary. Dark rums will give a similar taste, but it will make your drink look cloudy or muddy because of the color.
Granulated Sugar
Just a little sugar goes a long way in a mojito. If you’re like me, and you want a sweeter drink, you can add a bit more sugar to the drink. Just don’t add too much or you’ll lose that original mojito taste.
Ice
Great mojitos are served cold. Even if the soda was in the refrigerator, this drink is still best when served over ice cubes.
7-Up
Traditionally, bubbly club soda is used for a mint mojito recipe. That doesn’t add much flavor, though, so we have found that 7-Up is a great alternative. You could also use Sprite or another lemon-lime-flavored soda.
Classic Mojito FAQ
Bitterness usually comes from over-muddling the mint, which releases bitter compounds. Press gently just until the leaves are fragrant.
You can, but dark rum creates a richer, sweeter, and heavier drink. If using it, reduce the sugar slightly to maintain balance.
Reduce the sugar or use a light cane sugar or simple syrup. Using sparkling water instead of lemon-lime soda also helps cut sweetness.
Yes — mix the mint, lime, sweetener, and rum ahead of time and chill. Add the soda and ice right before serving to keep the fizz fresh.
Skip the rum, add extra lime juice, and top with sparkling water. Keep the mint and lime garnish so it looks and tastes just as refreshing.
Classic Mojito Step by Step
Ingredients
- 2 sprigs mint leaves
- 1 lime
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ice
- 8 oz 7-Up
Preparation
To make a classic, make sure you have a sturdy serving glass since you will be muddling and mixing in it. We have a few beer mugs that we like to use for mojitos. Cut the limes into quarters and squeeze the lime wedge to release some of the fresh lime juice. Then toss the entire lime chunks in the pitcher.
Add the mint leaves and muddle those. If you don’t have a cocktail muddler, use the back of a spoon to press the mint leaves to release some of their oil. Make sure you don’t crush them so much that they look like wilted spinach, but enough so that you can smell the mint.
Pour in the sugar and rum. Stir in the soda until the sugar has dissolved. Add some ice to your serving cups and serve the mojito cold.
Mojito Leftovers
Storage: Store the remaining mojito in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Note that the flavors will intensify as it sits because the oils and juices will mix together. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving.
Recipe
Originally Published On: July 1, 2019
Last Updated On: October 30, 2025
Classic Mojito
Ingredients
- 2 sprigs mint leaves
- 1 lime
- 2 oz rum
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ice
- 8 oz 7-Up
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Pull the leaves off of the mint sprigs and muddle them in a serving glass
- Cut the lime into wedges and squeeze the juice into the glass then muddle the wedges with the mint leaves
- Add the rum and sugar, stirring until the sugar partially dissolves in the liquid
- Fill the glass with ice then top with 7-Up
- Stir gently so the soda doesn’t fizz
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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My husband’s favorite right here – perhaps I shall make this for him for the 4th 😉 Get him a little tipsy! lol
This is my husband’s favorite, too! We will be at a convention for the 4th but the entire next week will be at the beach so we brought our muddler and some mint from the garden to make them there!
Pinning and saving this to my recipe app!
Awesome, thanks! It’s such an easy drink to throw together.
Oooo nothing more yummy than a mojito!!!! Such a delicious drink. A favorite of mine in the summer
It’s my husband’s favorite too. We are at the beach for a week right now and he’s made one every day!
I so wish I was more of a mojito drinker because they look so good to me! Maybe I’ll keep trying!
I am not a huge fan of a classic mojito like this, but I have other recipes on here for strawberry and orange mojitos. They add a lot more flavor, so maybe you could try one of those!
Yummm….being 9 months pregnant right now…I might be dreaming of mojitos! I’lm going to have to whip up one of these once I’m able to drink again!
I remember those days! That first drink afterward was so enjoyable!!
ahhh i love Mojitos, I mean who doesn’t love a good Mojito! I can’t wait to try your recipe.
I know, it’s such a refreshing drink! This is one of my husband’s favorites, I enjoy them with a bit of added strawberry.
With the way 2020 has been turning out, seems like I need a drink all the time lol! I love homemade mojitos. I can imagine a warm sunny beach in the middle of a cold winter day.
Hah, so true! My boys school just got canceled next week after being on spring break this whole week. I have a feeling we will be making a few of these over the next week or so after they go to bed!
You know I have never tried this. I’m so pinning to try soon. Can’t wait to try this easy recipe.
It’s such a great, refreshing drink! I hope you enjoy it!!
I love this refreshing drink I will surely to make this because it’s already summer here in my country thanks for this I will save this post.
It’s just about summer weather here in Texas already, so it’s time to start with the refreshing drinks here, too. I hope you enjoy it!
I never had mojitos before but it sounds simple to make. I don’t really like carbonated drinks, is there something else I can use instead of 7-Up?
They are very simple. I don’t drink carbonated beverages much either, but the 7-up works well in this and isn’t too much, at least to me. The 7-up helps give the lemon-lime flavor, so it would need to be something with comparable flavor to it.