How to Make a Mojito

The mojito is one of my favourite cocktails and it’s a lot of fun to make your own.

Ingredients

• 50 ml white rum. For the best mojitos use rum you would enjoy drinking neat.
• 25ml fresh lime juice. Usually one lime is more than enough for one mojito.
• 25ml simple syrup (1-1 ratio). You can use raw sugar, but it’s easier to make a simple syrup ahead of time. See below for more details.
• 8-12 mint leaves.
• Cracked ice. This cools the drink down, dilutes it, and keeps the mint leaves out of your mouth.
• Soda water. (Optional)
• An extra sprig of mint leaves and lime slices for decoration. (Optional)

Making Simple Syrup

To make simple syrup mix water with an equal volume of caster sugar. A very low heat will help the sugar dissolve if needed. The syrup can be stored in the fridge until needed.

Making a Mojito

The first step is to release the fragrant oils from the mint leaves. The easiest way is by slapping the mint. Put the mint leaves in the palm of one hand and slap it with your other hand a couple of times.

Next add the lime juice, syrup and rum and stir gently. Fill the glass with crushed ice and top up with soda water if desired. To decorate you can add slices of lime or a spring of mint. Putting mint next to a straw is a good idea so that you get the smell of mint with every sip. Mint is much stronger as a smell than a taste, so this isn’t just for the sake of decoration.

I hope this shows how easy it can be to make a great cocktail.