Beverages

Serving

Classic Mojito

Name: Classic Mojito
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Beverages
Ingredients: 10 fresh mint leaves; 1 lime, cut into wedges; 2 teaspoons sugar; 2 ounces white rum; 1/2 cup club soda; ice cubes

The classic Cuban cocktail of muddled mint, lime, and white rum topped with soda water.

8 minutes

Serves 1

Snack

5 min prep

6 min cook

No common allergens detected

Based on this recipe's ingredient list. Always verify with your own brands and labels.

Good to know

Ready in under 30 minutes

Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals

Instructions

4 steps

1
Muddle mint leaves, lime wedges, and sugar in the bottom of a glass.
2
Add white rum and fill the glass with ice.
3
Top with club soda and stir gently.
4
Garnish with a mint sprig and serve.

Classic Mojito — plated and served — Serving moment. How Classic Mojito looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

73/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 100

Kid-friendly 55

Weeknight-easy 86

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 50

Pantry-friendly 36

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

120

Calories

1 g

Protein

19 g

Carbs

0 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

The mojito is a Cuban original, built from mint, lime, sugar, and rum in a combination that likely traces back to older sailor and worker tonics made from sugarcane spirits and citrus. It became internationally known through Havana's bar culture in the 20th century and remains one of the most ordered rum cocktails worldwide.

Listahan note

This version builds the drink directly in the serving glass, muddling the mint and lime right where it will be served, so the aromatics stay strongest with every sip.

Technique cues

Muddle the mint gently; over-muddling releases bitter chlorophyll instead of just the fragrant oils.
Muddling the lime wedges along with the mint and sugar helps dissolve the sugar and release more citrus oil.
Add the rum after muddling but before the ice and soda, so it mixes evenly with the mint-lime base.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Wash and stem the mint while the ice is being filled into glasses.
Make-ahead: Muddle the mint, lime, and sugar into glasses ahead of a party; add rum, ice, and soda as guests arrive.
Leftover move: Strain any leftover muddled mint-lime base into a pitcher of iced tea for a minty twist.
Cleanup rhythm: Rinse the muddler right away so mint residue doesn't dry and stick to the ridges.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

Fresh mint leaves

Aromatic backbone

Purpose: Mint defines the mojito's flavor; fresh leaves give a brighter aroma than any substitute.

Handling: Muddle gently with a muddler or the back of a spoon, just enough to release the oils.

Adaptation: No good substitute exists; fresh mint is essential to this drink.

White rum

Spirit base

Purpose: White rum's clean, light flavor lets the mint and lime lead without adding heavier caramel notes.

Handling: Add after muddling the mint, lime, and sugar so it can mix with the aromatics.

Adaptation: Light gold rum works if white rum isn't available, though the flavor will be slightly rounder.

Lime

Acid

Purpose: Lime's sharp acidity balances the rum and sugar into a refreshing, well-rounded drink.

Handling: Cut into wedges and muddle to release juice and citrus oils from the peel.

Adaptation: Lemon works in a pinch, though it shifts the flavor away from the classic Cuban profile.

Technique notes

Use a proper muddler if you have one; a firm hand with the back of a wooden spoon also works.
Crushed ice, not cubed, chills the drink faster and gives it the classic mojito texture.
Reserve one mint sprig, unmuddled, to garnish on top so the aroma greets you before the first sip.

Ingredient swaps

Alcohol-free direction: Skip the rum and top with extra club soda for a virgin mojito.
Fruity direction: Muddle a few raspberries or a splash of pineapple juice in with the mint and lime.
Lower-sugar direction: Use a sugar substitute or a light hand with the simple syrup.

Serve alongside

Cuban sandwiches
Grilled shrimp skewers
Tostones
Ceviche
Piña colada for another rum-based option at the same gathering
Sparkling water for guests who want something lighter
Iced hibiscus tea as a non-alcoholic alternative

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Best made fresh and served immediately; the soda water goes flat and the ice dilutes the drink if it sits.
The muddled mint-lime-sugar base can be refrigerated for a few hours before adding rum, ice, and soda.
Not suitable for freezing or long storage once fully mixed.

Equipment

Muddler or sturdy wooden spoon
Tall highball glasses
Bar spoon for stirring

Make this household-aware

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