Frozen Mojito

Make your friends green with envy by sipping on a Frozen Mojito—lime, mint, and rum infused with crushed ice for the coolest cocktail outside Cuba.

Every cocktail from the Caribbean should come with crushed ice. There, I said it. Controversial? Not really. At least, not once you’ve sipped a Frozen Mojito.

The origins of the drink can be traced back to Cuba, though you probably already knew that. Its exact creation is unknown, though many believe it was given to Europeans who appeared on the island’s shores complaining of severe bouts of scurvy. Yep, mojitos were considered medicine—much yummier than modern medicines which, at last check, tasted NOTHING like the berries they claim to resemble on their packaging.

Thanks to the lime juice and mint, the sailors’ health improved. Soon, the mojito’s popularity spread not only throughout Cuba but back on the mainland as well. Nowadays, with scurvy not being the scourge it once was, mojitos are enjoyed for its taste and refreshing properties, though the lime juice and mint are ever-present. They’re a mainstay in America, where they regularly pop up by beaches and pools and tropical-themed bars, perfect for summer nights and scorching hot days.

What Can I Use Instead of Simple Syrup?

So, simple syrup just isn’t doing it for you, is it. I get it. Its recipe of granulated sugar and water is, well… simple. You also run the risk of blending your drink insufficiently and leaving granules of sugar. Plus, it’s not at all healthy. If these are your concerns, or if you’re just in the mood for something different, here are some options. Honey is perhaps the most readily available. It’s smooth and tasty, though some with dietary restrictions may forgo it as an option. Agave nectar/syrup is another option. Agave is where we get tequila from, though it has grown to be a sweetener in its own right, thanks to its healthy benefits. There are other, flavored syrups at your disposal but I hesitate to recommend them; they all taste rather synthetic to me.

What is the Best Rum To Use For a Mojito?

First, let’s identify the different kinds of rum. For this exercise, we’re going to move from light to dark. White rum (also known as light rum or silver rum), is the least imposing. Yes, it still tastes like rum but it has a cleaner finish to it, which makes it the ideal choice of rum for mojitos (so, to answer the above question, the answer is “light rum”.) But it’s not the only option you have. You can also find amber rums, spiced rums, dark rums, and even coconut rums, though that last one is more of a liqueur than a hard spirit. Dark rums, like Captain Morgan or Kraken bear notes of molasses and brown sugar. If that sounds appealing to you, then opt for this variety, though you’ll have to explain to any guests why their mojito looks more sinister than the mojitos they are more accustomed to. Spiced rums, meanwhile, have a spicy kick to them, a slight tingle at the back of the throat that some warm to while others find aggravating. Last, amber rums (Mount Gay, Appleton) are the middle ground between light and dark, with a smooth finish altered slightly by a more robust taste.

FAQs & Tips

Delicious Skinny Mojito Variations

• Vodka Mojito: I’ll give you one chance to guess how this differs from a Rum Mojito.
• Easy Virgin Mojito: To clarify, it’s the mojito that is easy (to make). Same taste without the prospect of a tomorrow spent nursing a headache.
• Strawberry Mojito: Prefer red cocktails to green? Prefer sweet to sour? Then this is the cocktail for you.
• Easy Mojito Pitcher: Not so much a variation on the original mojito recipe as instructions on how to scale so you can make some for all your friends in one fell swoop.