Orange Mojito

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

The charms of fresh golden citrus muddled together with mint are a few of the gifts found in the Orange Mojito.

Blame it on the movies for making me think oranges were the harbingers of doom. Specifically, The Godfather trilogy.

In the first film, Don Corleone is buying a bushel of the golden fruit from a vendor on the streets of New York. Then, gunmen from a rival family appear, shooting the Don down and leaving poor Fredo alone with his mortally wounded poppa as oranges roll everywhere. In the second film, Johnny Ola arrives at the Corleone compound in Tahoe with a gift of oranges from Miami. Later that night, bullets rip through Michael and Kay’s bedroom windows. Then, in the third movie, oranges are seen falling out of a bowl of fruit right before a helicopter appears overhead, with machine guns tearing into a meeting of Michael’s associates and allies.

So yeah, I kept thinking oranges were bad news. Of course, over time and with plenty of glasses of O.J., I’ve come around on the citrus fruit, especially with its important place in the cocktail world. Where would the classic Screwdriver be without a robust and sweet blast of orange juice?

Tonight’s cocktail takes some fresh orange slices and muddles them to take part in a powerful, citrusy take on a classic drink, the Orange Mojito. There’s nothing doomy or dark about this tipple, especially with the combination of fresh orange flavor, mint and rum taking the spotlight.

What is the best rum to use in an Orange Mojito?

We’ll want to use a white—or silver—rum when mixing up our Orange Mojito this evening. The light and subtly tropical-tasting notes found in every sip will meld wonderfully with the orange, sugar and mint. The clear colored spirit also helps keep a balance between all these flavors, brightened by the splashes of club soda.

What glassware and garnish are used?

Find a tall and sturdy glass to mix and drink your Orange Mojito out of. Once the ice and everything else have been added and you’re ready to imbibe, garnish the top with a fresh orange slice and a lime wedge.

What is the best type of sugar to use?

It is often recommended by bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts to muddle drinks using superfine sugar instead of the granulated kind, which is more commonly used in baking. This is to keep the texture of your beverage smooth, instead of sandy, since the crystals in superfine sugar are smaller and dissolve much more easily.

Other mojito variations worth trying

Whether the weather be hot or cold, a refreshing Mojito cocktail is always a welcome suggestion. And when a drink is as popular and iconic as the Mojito is, it is bound to inspire any number of offshoots, riffs and variations. Twist & Toast has some fine versions you can try this evening, with even more mixtures available throughout the site.

• Coconut Mojito – A smooth, creamy and minty delicacy awaits you in this tipple.
• Frozen Mojito – Beat the heat with this icy and invigorating concoction.
• Pineapple Arugula Mojito – This take is tart, peppery and fresh-tasting.
• Vodka Mojito – Here’s a cocktail that’s crisp, bright and relaxing.