Our classic mojito is a Cuban cocktail made with white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, and simple syrup, topped with club soda and served over ice. It’s tropical, light, and the perfect cocktail for summer days.

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I’m just going to say it. Most restaurant mojitos are really bad. I stopped wasting money on restaurant cocktails a long time ago, especially when it comes to mojitos. They always taste so flat with very little lime or mint flavor.

That meant if I wanted a mojito, I was going to have to make it at home. So, that’s what I did. My version is based on the mojitos I used to get in Miami. It’s a more traditional method using simple syrup along with muddling the mint. The simple syrup gives the drink a more consistent sweetness so you aren’t getting sips of club soda and nothing else.

I like to use white rum like Bacardi or one of my favorite local brands. The mint should be fresh and bright green, and I always use fresh limes and lime juice. Those small details help make this recipe “pop.”

If you need an easy mojito recipe, give mine a try! You’ll have a great tasting tropical cocktail in your hand in minutes.

Glasses of our classic mojito recipe with fresh mint leaves and lime.

My Best Mojito Making Tips

Use a small sprinkle of granulated sugar to help break down the mint leaves and lime wedges as you muddle.
If you don’t have a muddler, the round end of a wooden spoon will also work.
Since I use simple syrup, this recipe is on the sweeter side. If you want it less sweet, cut back on the amount of simple syrup.
Make sure you grab club soda and not tonic water. These are two different types of bottled water. Tonic water has sweeteners added and will throw off the flavor of the mojito.

How to Make a Classic Mojito

Plan on making the simple syrup ahead of time so it has plenty of time to cool. I tend to make a big batch of syrup, then store in the fridge for later. If you only need enough for this recipe, use about 2/3 cup water and 2/3 cup granulated sugar. That gives you enough to make a sweet drink.

Place the mint, lime wedges, and a sprinkle of granulated sugar into a drink shaker. Use a muddler to gently bruise the mint and press the juice from the lime wedges. I switched to muddling the limes years ago instead of using straight lime juice. The oils in the skins give the drink more flavor.

Add a handful of ice, pour in the rum, and simple syrup. Give everything a good shake for 10 to 15 seconds.

You have two options here: either strain the liquid into a glass filled with ice and fresh mint, or pour the muddled mint and lime wedges into an ice filled glass. Top it off with club soda, stir, and enjoy!

If you want to switch things up once you’ve got the classic version down, my coconut rum mojito is another tasty one to try. And, my cranberry mojito is a good tart, wintery drink for the holidays.