The red mojito is a berry-filled variation on the classic mojito - a rum based cocktail which needs no introduction. With its bright red hue and refreshingly fruity flavor it’s a must-try for rum cocktail enthusiasts.
Mojitos have long been a staple in the cocktail world, famous for their Cuban roots and the perfect balance of sweetness, citrus, and mint flavors. The Red Mojito stays true to this traditional recipe but adds an additional fruity twist into the mix.
What Makes a Mojito Red?
Some recipes call for sickly sweet fruit syrups, or sugar filled cranberry juice. I’m all about the natural flavors so our Red Mojito recipe will have whatever fresh red fruits tickle your fancy: strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds or cranberries.
You can stick with one fruit or mix them together. Frozen fruit works just as well as fresh - just make sure to thaw it first. Using real fruit rather than syrup in our Red Mojito makes for a healthier drink. It also tastes much nicer. The tangy and subtly sweet flavors of the fruit complement the mojito very well - and we still get all the sweetness we need from the sugar or simple syrup.
Red Mojito Recipe
- 2 oz white rum - I particularly enjoy El Dorado 3 Year Old rum in this recipe
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons sugar (or to taste)
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- A handful of red fruits (raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate seeds)
- Crushed ice
- Soda water
- Mint sprig and extra red fruits for garnish
How to Make a Red Mojito
The Red Mojito is a drink that’s best built in a cocktail glass, rather than shaken and strained. As the fruit pulp and mint are important components in this cocktail you want them to actually remain in your drink.
Here’s the full process:
1. Muddle the fruits and mint
In your highball glass, gently muddle the mint leaves with the red fruits and sugar. This is where you release the essential oils of the mint and the juices of the fruits, creating the base of your cocktail’s flavor. Muddle thoroughly until the fruit becomes a thick pulp. If the fruit pieces are too large they won’t fit through your straw, so try to muddle it for longer than you normally would.
2. Add the rum and lime juice
Pour in the white rum and fresh lime juice. The lime juice adds a citrusy zing that balances the sweetness of the fruits and rum.
3. Add some ice, and mix
Add a scoop of crushed ice, filling the glass up half way. Take your bar spoon with the head facing up and the hammer (the disc on the end of your spoon) facing down. Muddle your drink using the hammer in an up and down motion, mixing together the crushed ice and all the ingredients.
4. Top up the crushed ice
Add more crushed ice, all the way up to the top of your glass.
5. Top with soda water
Gently top the drink with soda water. This adds a refreshing fizz that lightens the drink. Pour it in slowly as it takes some time to trickle through the crushed ice.
6. Garnish
Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few whole pieces of red fruit on top.
Mixology Tip: Slap the Mint
It sounds funny, but it works. “Slapping” the mint before putting it in your glass releases the essential oils and fresh minty aroma. Simply hold the mint leaves in one hand and clap your hands together. Rub the leaves around the rim of your glass before dropping them in to ensure you get a blast of minty freshness with every sip.
Tools for Making the Perfect Red Mojito
To craft the ultimate Red Mojito, having the right tools at your disposal is as almost as important as the ingredients themselves. You’ll need:
- Muddler: This is an essential tool for any mojito, but it’s even more important in a Red Mojito as we have so much fruit to crush together with the mint leaves.
- Bar Spoon: For the unique up and down stirring motion needed for this drink. Nothing can beat a bar spoon in perfectly mixing all of the ingredients without creating a mess. Just make sure you have a European or Japanese style bar spoon which has the circular hammer on the end, rather than one with a red plastic tip.
- Jigger: For accurately measuring the rum and lime juice.
- Ice Crusher or Ice Bag and Mallet: You can’t have a Red Mojito without crushed ice. You can buy crushed ice in little bags at some stores but it sometimes freezes together. I’d recommend an ice crusher or an ice bag with a mallet for creating your own crushed ice (from ice cubes) at home.
- Highball Glasses: The best glass for serving a mojito is a highball glass.
Other Mojito Variations
- Blueberry Mojito: Why stop at red fruits? Muddle fresh blueberries along with the mint for an equally visually stunning and tasty cocktail.
- Mango Mojito: For a more tropical flavor add some mango puree or chunks to your mojito. The sweetness of the mango pairs wonderfully with the rum and mint.
- Red Mojito Mocktail: Whether it’s for Dry January or if you just want a break from the booze for an evening, a non-alcoholic Red Mojito is just as refreshing as the rum-filled version. Follow the same recipe but put in a little more fruit, lime and sugar to taste.
