This refreshing Extra Minty Mojito bumps up the mint flavor without filling your glass with mint leaves by adding homemade mint simple syrup.
I used to have a giant patch of mint in my backyard. What as unusual about it was that it just magically appeared, all on its own.
I noticed it growing partially under our deck in a section of landscaping rocks a couple of years ago. There was no other mint growing nearby, and I had never grown mint anywhere in my backyard ever. It just showed up.
Not being one to question edible plants that are willing to grow without any sort of work from me, I just let it be, harvesting the leaves whenever I needed them. It even survived an accidental weed-killer application by our lawn company. It just keeps growing, bigger and bigger. Sometimes, I wonder what I should do with it all, and then I just go ahead and make mint tea and Extra Minty Mojitos.
I like my mojitos really minty. But I found that to get them as minty as I wanted them, I had to put so many mint leaves into my glass that it kind of felt like I was chewing on a salad.
Then one day, I did a huge mint harvest and decided to make some mint simple syrup (just equal parts mint, sugar and water - simple). I intended to use this syrup to add to club soda, and maybe even sweeten my mint tea.
But then I figured why not add it to my mojitos for an extra hint of minty goodness? Jackpot! I could get the minty flavor I wanted, while still adding just a reasonable number of leaves to my cocktail. No excessive chewing required.
How to make Extra Minty Mojito
Making this mojito starts with making mint simple syrup. My recipe below makes just over a cup of syrup, but if you know you're going be making a lot of mojitos, feel free to scale the recipe up. Just stick with an equal parts ratio of the three ingredients.
Making the simple syrup simply involves bringing the water, sugar, and mint to a boil, and then letting it steep for an hour. Strain out the mint and let the syrup cool completely before adding it to your mojito.
To make the mojito, muddle together the lime, mint, and sugar in a sturdy glass (if you question your glass's sturdiness, do the muddling in a measuring cup or cocktail shaker and transfer it to your glass later). Stir in the rum.
Transfer your mixture to a tall glass that is filled halfway with ice (or fill the glass that you muddled in halfway with ice) and top off with club soda. Garnish with more mint or lime if desired.
Can I make a mojito mocktail?
Absolutely! To make a non-alcoholic version of this Extra Minto Mojito, simply skip the rum.
What type of glass should I use for a mojito?
Mojitos should be served in tall glasses with straight sides, like a Collins glass. If you're planning to muddle in the glass itself, make sure it's sturdy. I love the looks of this Duralex glass, which is tempered so it's sturdy, dishwasher safe, and stackable.
Extra Minty Mojito Ingredients
Mint Simple Syrup
- Water - use whatever water you normally drink. Tap water is fine.
- Sugar - use regular granulated sugar here.
- Mint leaves - see FAQ below to learn more about different types of mint.
Extra Minty Mojito
- Mint simple syrup - make sure it's fully chilled before using it in your mojito.
- Small lime
- Mint leaves - see FAQ below to learn more about different types of mint. You'll probably want to use the same type of mint for both your simple syrup and your mojito.
- Rum - white rum is the traditional choice, but dark rum will work too if it's what you happen to have.
- Club soda or sparkling water - Use either plain or lime flavored.
Does it matter what type of mint I use in my mojito?
Spearmint is most commonly used in Mojitos in the USA and Canada and is also what you'll normally find in grocery store produce departments when you shop for mint.
However, if you've ever browsed a garden center looking for mint plants to grow in your backyard, you will find almost endless varieties. If you want a traditional Cuban mojito experience, purchase Mojito Mint if your garden center has it.
Want more minty recipes?
Extra Minty Mojito Nutrition Notes:
As with most cocktails, the majority of the calories from this drink come from the alcohol in it. If you're not willing to cut out the booze, there is not much you can do to cut the calories of this particular cocktail, as the sugar is already at a minimum. However, if you cut out the rum, you've got a refreshingly delicious (and fairly low calorie) mocktail on your hands.
Extra Minty Mojito
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup mint leaves to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and steep for an hour. Strain into a bottle or jar and cool completely before using. The syrup can be stored in the fridge for several weeks.
- Muddle together 1 ounce mint simple syrup, ½ small lime, and 6 large mint leaves (make sure you do this in a very sturdy tall glass or use a cocktail shaker or measuring cup). Stir in 1 ½ ounces rum. Fill the glass halfway with ice (or fill a tall glass halfway with ice and transfer your muddled mixture-rum to the glass). Top with club soda (use lime-flavored soda if you like your mojito extra limey). Garnish with additional mint leaves or lime wedge as desired.
Nutrition
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