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+ servings
Two highballs of Puerto Rican Mojitos, sliced limes and mint sprigs lie around the glasses

Puerto Rican Mojitos

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Cuban, Puerto Rican/Hispanic
Keyword: cocktail, mojito, rum
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 112kcal
Author: Marta Rivera
Use fresh mint and lime juice to create this bright, crisp cocktail.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • muddler
  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) turbinado sugar
  • 12 (or 1 bushy sprig) mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces or 60 milliliters) white rum
  • 1/3 cup (3 ounces or 85 milliliters) lime juice
  • lemon-lime soda or soda water, to float

Optional Garnishes

  • mint sprigs
  • lime wedges or slices

Instructions

Muddle the Mint Leaves with the Rum and Sugar

  • In a cocktail shaker, muddle the turbinado and mint leaves. The mixture should look syrupy and smell minty.

Shake the Mojitos Vigorously

  • Add a cup of ice to the cocktail shaker, followed by rum and lime juice.
    Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously until the shaker frosts over. 

Pour and Enjoy

  • Fill two highball glasses with ice and strain the mojito base into the glasses.
    Pour the lemon-lime soda to top it. Leave a 1/4" headspace so you can stir the cocktail. 
  • Garnish your cocktails with fresh mint and/or lime wheels.
    Serve immediately and enjoy responsibly.

Notes

Swaps and Substitutions:
  • You can use granulated sugar instead if you don't have turbinado sugar.
  • Mimic the mint flavor with peppermint extract or omit it altogether if you don't have fresh mint leaves.
  • Use a dash or two of mint bitters or replace the mint with a different herb, like fresh basil, rosemary, or cilantro.
  • Swap the light rum for an amber rum like Ron del Barrilito for a mojito with a more prominent flavor of rum.
  • Replace lemon-lime soda with soda water, seltzer, tonic water, or grapefruit soda.
  • You can swap the lime juice in your mojitos for lemon juice or pineapple juice.
  • To create a coconut mojito, add 2 tablespoons of coconut milk to each glass after you strain the rum mixture into them.
Tips and Techniques:
  • Regular spearmint or apple mint leaves are the best variety to use in mojito recipes. Peppermint is the next best option.
  • You can muddle mint with a honey dipper, a tart press, a pestle, or- as a last resort- a handle of a sturdy wooden spoon if you don't own a muddler.
  • For the best mojitos, avoid using bottled lime juice if you can. If it's unavoidable, choose a high-quality product with as few sulfites or preservatives as possible.
  • To make virgin Puerto Rican Mojitos just use soda water in place of the rum. 
Pitcher Mojitos (Serves 8):
  • 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
  • 3 bunches fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup white rum
  • 1 1/2 cups lime juice
  • 1/2 liter lemon-lime soda
Muddle or pulse the mint and sugar in a blender. Mix with the rum and lime juice and strain into a pitcher. Serve over ice and float the soda as desired. 

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.4mg