A crisp, sweet, and delicious take on the classic, minty cocktail.
While the history of the mojito is a little “muddled”, the consensus among historians and drink enthusiasts is that it originated in Cuba during the time of Sir Francis Drake, where his crew of sailors discovered that a refreshing mix of lime, mint, sugar and rum was not only delicious, but it also fought off scurvy. The mojito was born, and not only was it good, it was also good for you.
This mojito’s classic recipe and flavor profile lends itself well to different versions of the drink, and today we’re going to make one of those… the Strawberry Mojito!
The first time I had any kind of mojito was about ten years ago, on a hot and muggy night in New York City, and it really hit the spot. The mint had the perfect amount of coolness, blending effortlessly with the tart lime and bite of the rum. Adding strawberries isn’t about putting in an extra ingredient for the sake of something different, the flavors all come together as though they were meant to be. The sweetness of the berries feels like the ingredient you didn’t realize was missing until it’s there, and the cocktail becomes a more candy-like affair without being too overpowering. You’ll want to enjoy more than one!
If you’ve never had a mojito before, the strawberry version of it is a great way to discover this fun and delicious drink. You may even want to try other similar cocktails as well, like the Old Cuban, the Southside or the curiously named Queens Park Swizzle… I’ll have to try that one based on the name alone! Here at Twist and Toast, we have a few other mojito recipes for you to check out after trying this one, such as the Watermelon Mojito and the Coconut Mojito
The strawberries and how they’re prepared is at the top of my list for this drink. Some folks go for simplicity and use a syrup, or they puree the strawberries in a blender beforehand. This is fine, but I tend to think using syrup makes it too sweet, and pulverizing the fruit into a near liquid also robs your cocktail of that fresh flavor, sometimes even muting the other ingredients.
What is the Best Rum to Use to Make a Strawberry Mojito?
You’ll want to use a good white rum for the Strawberry Mojito, also known as silver rum. Gold or spiced rums just won’t do the job. They’re a bit too robust for this drink, as the flavors don’t play well with the mint and fruit.
A few years ago, I took a tour of the Koloa Rum plantation in Hawaii and discovered their amazing products. I highly recommend trying a bottle of their white rum, which can be purchased just about anywhere you get your alcohol. Its smooth character won’t clash with the rest of the cocktail, sitting at that “just right” space between the other flavors. If you can’t find Koloa near you, any mid- to top-shelf white rum will do, like Wray & Nephew. The rum is one ingredient you don’t want to skimp on. Lesser quality spirits will leave you with a headache.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 fresh strawberries
- Soda water
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Muddle strawberries and mint leaves in a glass. Add rum, lime juice and simple syrup.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes and top it off with soda water.
- Stir the mixture gently and garnish with a strawberry and a mint leaf.
Nutrition
FAQs
A Collins glass is the way to go, but if you don’t have one you can use anything tall that will hold a nice amount of ice. You can chill your glass in the freezer beforehand too, giving an extra little blast of cold to your sipping. For garnish, pop a single sprig of mint and a nice, juicy strawberry on top.
If you know ahead of time that you’ll be saving some for later, I’d suggest adding the club soda topper to each glass individually instead of altogether. This way, when you pop it into the fridge to save for the next day, your fizzy soda won’t go flat.
Each mojito is around 228 calories. Remember, these are fun to drink, so that number might add up quickly if you’re having more than a few.
Vodka is a solid alternative. It subtly blends well with other flavors when mixed into cocktails.
Experimenting with cocktails at home is the best way to discover what “your” version of this drink is, so play with the amount of each ingredient that you put in… try less mint, a couple more strawberries, if it’s too sweet, cut the simple syrup to ½ oz. Play around with it, have fun and find your flavor.
Pour the rum, lime juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and give it a good old-fashioned rumble. Add that to the muddled lime and strawberries in a tall ice-filled glass. Instead of club soda, top it off with some prosecco, which will give your drink a little extra sparkle. Either a brut rose or Blanc de Blancs will do nicely, as they won’t take over the other flavors.
Strawberry Mojito Variations
If you’re curious about other similar-tasting cocktails, try some of these:
- Strawberry Gin & Tonic – just add an equal ratio of strawberry syrup and lime juice to your favorite gin and tonic for a sweet treat.
- Strawberry Vodka Lemonade – muddle some strawberries and mix them with vodka and lemonade, simple, delicious, and perfect for those hot, summer days.
- Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail – it’s not too late to start thinking about what we’ll be drinking when the holidays come back around, and this cocktail, using cranberries instead of strawberries, and made with vodka and the elderflower liqueur St. Germain, tastes exactly what I imagine Santa Claus drinks after a long Christmas night.
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