This easy spiced mojito recipe will add some spice to your spring! You make it with white rum, lime juice, cane sugar syrup, fresh mint, and a touch of Jalapeño pepper - the perfect cocktail for warm spring evenings.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 192
Ingredients
- 2 oz White Rum - preferably Cuban
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ⅔ cane sugar syrup
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 1-2 oz soda water - to top up
- 2 slices of fresh Jalapeno - adjust to taste
- Crushed ice
- Lime wedge and mint sprig - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Highball Glass
- Muddler
- Measuring Jigger
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
- Straw
Instructions
- Muddle: In your highball glass, put 2 slices of fresh Jalapeno and ⅔ cane sugar syrup. Muddle well.
- Add Mint: Take 6-8 fresh mint leaves in one hand and gently smack it with the other to release its aromas. Drop it into the glass.
- Add Lime Juice: Pour in 1 oz fresh lime juice.
- Add Rum: Measure and pour 2 oz White Rum into the glass.
- Add Ice: Fill the glass three-quarters full with crushed ice.
- Stir: Using a bar spoon or long stirrer, churn well to combine the ingredients.
- Add Ice: Add a straw and top up with more crushed ice.
- Top with Soda: Fill the glass with approx. 1-2 oz soda water.
- Garnish: Garnish with a lime wedge and/or a sprig of mint and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- White Rum: If you don't have white rum, you can use gold or dark rum. Spiced rum can be a nice alternative too!
- Fresh Lime Juice: Bottled lime juice can work in a pinch if fresh limes aren't available, but the flavor will be less vibrant. Fresh lemon juice can also work in a pinch if you're out of limes. The flavor will be slightly different but still refreshing.
- Cane Sugar Syrup: You can make your own syrup by dissolving equal parts cane sugar and water over low heat. Alternatively, you can also use regular simple syrup to make this cocktail. You can substitute sugar with honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part water) or agave syrup if you prefer a more natural sweetener.
- Jalapeno: If you're not into spicy drinks, leave it out entirely or replace it with cucumber for a refreshing twist.
- Soda Water: for an even spicier twist, you can use ginger beer instead of soda water to top up your drink.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Rum Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic rum substitute; several brands that mimic the rum flavor quite well are available. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also make your own rum substitute by infusing together rooibos tea and a bunch of spices of your liking (vanilla, cinnamon, clove, allspice and banana are always a good way to start). Mix all the ingredients together, add hot water, cover and let it infuse for at least 3h (the stronger the better, so if you have time let it infuse overnight. In that case, you can either let it rest in the fridge once the liquid has cooled down). Give it a taste, adjust the spice level if necessary and strain it once you’re happy with the result. Stored properly (in an airtight container in the fridge), this “tea-rum” can be kept for up to a week. You can also decide to omit the rum altogether, in which case you can use a dash of lime cordial as a substitute or simply use ginger beer or ginger ale to top up instead of soda water to give the drink an extra kick of flavor.
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of the regular rum, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Spiced Mojito cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including rum, are vegan-friendly. However, some brands may use animal products in their production process, especially if a filtration process is involved. Always check the brand's website or contact them directly to ensure their products are vegan. The same goes for the sugar & sugar syrup, as some sugars are processed using bone char; to avoid this problem, stick to organic brown sugar when making your cane sugar syrup.What is a Spiced Mojito?
A Spiced Mojito is a rum-based cocktail made of white rum, fresh lime juice, cane sugar syrup, mint leaves, soda water, and a touch of jalapeño pepper.
The Spiced Mojito is a variant of the classic Mojito – one of Cuba’s oldest cocktails known for its refreshing blend of lime, mint, and rum.
What is a Spiced Mojito made of – The ingredients
For a Spiced Mojito, ensure you have these ingredients:
- White Rum: The primary alcoholic component adds a smooth and slightly sweet flavor.
- Fresh Mint Leaves: They provide the drink with a refreshing and cooling effect.
- Lime Juice: Adds a tangy citrus flavor that balances the sweetness of the rum.
- Cane Sugar Syrup: Sweetens the drink and helps mellow out the lime juice’s tartness.
- Fresh Jalapeno Slices: Introduces a vegetal flavor as well as a subtle heat that adds an interesting twist to the traditional Mojito.
- Soda Water: Gives the cocktail its characteristic fizz and lightness.
- Ice Cubes: Chills the drink, making it more refreshing.
- Lime Wedge and Mint Sprig (for garnish): Enhances the visual appeal and aroma of the drink.
