Virgin Mojito

Nojito

The classic Mojito without the rum: lime, mint and sugar topped with soda water for a fresh, tart, lightly sweet long drink.

Alcohol-free
Built in the glass
2 min
Highball glass
refreshing
minty
citrusy
sour

Ingredients

6 leavesFresh mintSpearmint is the best choice. Clap the leaves lightly between your palms before pressing to release their oils.
2 teaspoonsWhite sugarFine white sugar dissolves best. Simple syrup works as well.
1 ozFresh lime juice
Top up withSoda waterAbout 90 ml, poured last. Add a little more if you prefer a longer, lighter drink.

Ice: Crushed ice · Garnish: fresh mint, lime

Method

Place 6 mint leaves, 2 teaspoons of white sugar and 30 ml of fresh lime juice in a highball glass.
Press the mint gently with a muddler, just enough to release its aroma without tearing the leaves.
Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir to dissolve the sugar.
Top with chilled soda water and stir gently once or twice.
Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge.

This is the alcohol-free version of Mojito.

Tips

Press the mint, don't shred it. Torn leaves release bitter notes and leave green flecks in the glass.
If the sugar dissolves slowly, use 15 ml of simple syrup instead of the 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Pour the soda water last and keep it cold so the drink stays lively and the ice melts slowly.

Swaps

Missing something? These swaps change the taste a little but keep the drink balanced.

White sugar → Simple syrup or Cane sugar syrup or Agave syrup
Fresh lime juice → Fresh lemon juice

History

The Mojito is a Cuban highball, and its exact origins are debated, with Havana often named as its birthplace. The classic recipe combines white rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda water. The virgin version keeps everything except the rum, which makes it a refreshing alcohol-free long drink.