How to make a refreshingly classic mojito

• The mojito is a simple mixed drink of rum, mint, lime, sugar, and club soda.
• There are many ways to adjust the basic recipe, like adding fruit or using flavored sparkling water.
• Mojitos make for an easy big-batch cocktails to serve a group.

The mojito is a popular cocktail known for its light and refreshing flavor combination of lime juice and mint. A go-to warm-weather cocktail that originated in Cuba, the mojito is a simple but versatile drink.

"The mojito is a variation on a common drink, it's a highball plus an aromatic," Greh Holger, a mixologist who operates The Holger Hut, a roving tiki-inspired pop-up bar in Los Angeles. "It's basically a cousin to the Collins."

Despite its simple ingredients, there are many ways to approach the mojito. Some bartenders prefer to make a mojito completely in the glass, and some prefer to use a cocktail shaker and strainer. Even with numerous variations, it's easy to make a mojito weithout any special tools.

What you need

The mojito has many variations, but the recipe below is a proper starting point. A muddler and stirring spoon will make the process easier, but the tools are not required.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces light rum
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• ½ of a lime
• 8-10 mint leaves
• Cubed or crushed ice
• 2 to 4 ounces of club soda, to taste
• Mint sprig, for garnish (optional)

How to make a mojito

1. Add the sugar, mint leaves, and lime juice. In a tall glass, add the mint leaves and sugar, then squeeze the juice from half a lime into the glass. Drop the squeezed lime half into the glass.
2. Muddle the ingredients. Use a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon to gently release the flavor of the mint. Stir to ensure the sugar is dissolved.
3. Fill the glass with ice and add rum. Stir well with a spoon, lifting the lime and mint from the bottom of the glass to mix evenly. If the ice melted some while stirring, add a bit more.
4. Top with club soda. Stir again gently to mix.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig. Lightly slap the mint sprig against your hand to release some of the aroma. Place the mint sprig near the straw to maximize the mint aroma when drinking. Serve and enjoy.

Quick tip: For a twist on this classic recipe, try muddling small pieces of fruit, like strawberry or mango along with the lime. Try mixing in different kinds of soda water as well, including sparkling mineral water or fruit-flavored sparkling water.

How to make a batch of mojitos

Mojitos can easily be made in advance in large batches. Follow the same basic instructions, just scale the recipe up by multiplying the recipe by however many mojitos you'd like to serve.

For example, to prepare a batch large enough to make ten mojitos, use 20 ounces of rum, 20 teaspoons of sugar, the juice of 5 halved limes and around 100 mint leaves (about two mint bunches worth of leaves). This would make a cocktail mix of about 25 ounces.

Mix the sugar, mint, lime, and rum and muddle before storing. Keep the batch cool in the fridge until it's time to serve. The mix can be made up to 24 hours in advance.

To serve, fill a glass glass with ice, then pour about ¾ of the cocktail mixture in. Top each glass off with the fresh soda water, stir to mix, and a mint spring for garnish and serve.

Best cocktail making tools

Insider's reviews team recommends lots of products from cocktail shakers to bar cart accessories to alcohol delivery services. Read more about our favorites.

• Best cocktail shaker overall: Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins (Set of 2)
• Best muddlers: Crafthouse by Fortessa's solid walnut muddler and Carter's Stainless Steel Muddler
• Best mixing spoons: Crafthouse by Fortessa's Mixing Spoon and Hiware's bar spoon
• Best alcohol delivery services: Drizly, Minibar, and Saucey

Insider's takeaway

The mojito is a crisp, refreshing cocktail perfect for a hot day. It's easy to prepare in larger batches in advance for a summer barbecue. The simple recipe also lends itself to experimentation and practicing basic techniques.