Mojitos are a refreshing combination of fresh mint, citrusy lime and effervescent bubbles. They make a fantastic poolside sipper and are the perfect cocktails for cooling down on a scorching day. But I’m not always in the mood to imbibe with a rum-based mojito. Luckily, these virgin mojitos have the same alluring aromas of mint and lime—with none of the booze. And honestly, I don’t miss it!
Virgin Mojito Ingredients
- Lime: Fresh limes are essential to this virgin mojito recipe. Muddling the whole lime with sugar releases the lime peel’s essential oils, giving the mocktail the freshest, most robust flavor possible. Bottled lime juice will taste sad and underwhelming in comparison. If you’re making virgin mojitos for a crowd, take this hack for juicing a lemon and use it to pulse the whole lime in the food processor.
- Sugar: For best results, use superfine sugar. The acidic lime juice does a pretty good job of dissolving larger sugar granules, but some granulated sugar could remain behind. You can also use simple syrup for a smoother texture.
- Mint: I grow mojito mint in my backyard specifically for this virgin mojito cocktail! Also called Mentha x villosa, this Cuban mint varietal is warmer, milder and more citrusy than American spearmint varieties, which are sweeter with a harsher minty character. Of course, any fresh mint will taste great in this drink, so use what you have.
- Club soda: Club soda adds complexity to virgin cocktails like virgin margaritas or mojitos. You could substitute seltzer water, but club soda contains minerals that give the mocktail a richer mouthfeel.
Directions
Step 1: Muddle the sugar and lime
Squeeze a lime wedge into a highball glass, then drop the lime into the glass. Add the sugar and muddle.
Step 2: Slap the mint
Add ice to the glass. Gently press mint or slap the mint, then add it to the glass.
Step 3: Finish with club soda
Pour club soda into a glass and stir. If you’d like, garnish the virgin mojito with additional lime.
Editor’s Tip: If you prefer a sweeter mojito, skip the club soda and finish the drink with lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7-Up.
Virgin Mojito Variations
- Blueberry mojitos: Muddle eight fresh blueberries in the glass to make blueberry mojitos.
- Coconut mojitos: Stir in 1 ounce of cream of coconut to turn this mocktail into a coconut mojito.
- Frozen mojitos: Check out our mojito slush recipe for directions on how to turn these virgin mojitos into a frozen, slushy treat.
- Limeade mojitos: Instead of muddling the limes with sugar, use limeade as a shortcut. You can even use flavored limeades like cranberry limeade or tajin limeade.
- Maple mojitos: Use maple syrup instead of sugar, as we do in this maple blackberry mojito recipe.
- Passion fruit mojitos: After muddling the lime, stir in 2 ounces of passion fruit for a passion fruit mojito.
- Strawberry mojitos: Muddle three strawberries in the glass to make strawberry mojitos.
- Watermelon mojitos: Muddle two watermelon cubes (about the size of an ice cube) to add a juicy burst of watermelon flavor.
Can you make virgin mojitos ahead of time?
You can make virgin mojitos ahead of time, just wait to add the club soda until you serve them. The mocktail won’t taste the same without those effervescent bubbles!
Virgin Mojito Tips
Should you muddle the mint when making virgin mojitos?
Some mojito recipes call for muddling the mint, but many cocktail experts recommend pressing or slapping the mint instead. The goal is to release the mint’s essential oils, and smacking the mint is enough to get the job done. Muddling comes with a risk of over-muddling, which can create a bitter taste.
Do you need any special tools to make virgin mojitos?
You don’t need any special tools or a home bar setup to make virgin mojitos. If you don’t have a muddler, use a small wooden spoon or the tip of a wooden spoon’s handle.
How do you store mint for mojitos?
The best way to store fresh herbs like mint is the same way you would store flowers—upright with the stems in a glass of water. Loosely cover the mint leaves with a plastic bag, and store the mint in the refrigerator for up to a week.
