Think mojito, think limes, right? Think again.
Lean into this spiced rum and finger lime twist on the classic Cuban cocktail.
A minty mojito and warm weather go hand in hand, thanks to the traditional mojito being the definition of refreshment. Picture a zesty medley of lime juice and mint, crisp white rum and soda water, and the sweetness of a sprinkling of sugar. But once the weather cools, cosy up the cocktail by adding extra layers of flavour and richness with spiced rum. Wrapping around the mint and sugar, the spiced rum brings smooth depth to this typically tropical drink.
Give it a whirl with this finger lime mojito recipe, made with Sodasmith Finger Lime Soda for a distinctly Australian take on the classic.
Finger Lime Mojito (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
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120mL spiced rum
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60mL Lemon Fresh lime juice
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10mL sugar syrup
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2 mint sprigs
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Ice cubes, to serve
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Sodasmith Finger Lime Soda, to top
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Lime slices or finger lime pearls, to garnish
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Mint sprigs, to garnish
Method:
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Place the rum, lime juice, sugar syrup and mint sprigs in a cocktail shaker and gently muddle.
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Fill two glasses with ice. Strain the rum mixture into the glasses and top with Sodasmith Finger Lime Soda.
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Garnish with lime slices, finger lime pearls and mint.
Tip:
To make your own sugar syrup, combine ½ cup (110g) caster sugar and ½ cup (125mL) water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Cool completely, then store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
A Brief History of the Mojito
The mojito may be Cuban by birth, but like many iconic cocktails, its origin is up for debate. One popular story ties the drink to La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, where Ernest Hemingway reportedly enjoyed his mojitos regularly. Another theory traces the cocktail’s roots to African slaves working in Cuban sugarcane fields, with the word mojo meaning “to place a little spell”.
Regardless of which version you prefer, the mojito has earned its place as one of the world’s most beloved cocktails—so much so that it even found its way into the hands of James Bond in Die Another Day.
What Makes a Mojito a Mojito?
No matter where in the world it’s made, the mojito is a classic highball that celebrates Cuba’s native ingredients: rum, mint, lime and sugar. This Finger Lime Mojito follows the original’s blueprint—melding mint, lime juice and sugar—while swapping white rum for spiced rum and traditional soda water for Sodasmith Finger Lime Soda, which heightens the citrus zing and adds an extra layer of flavour.
Source: This was adapted from the original recipe, Embrace the dark side of rum with this Dirty Mojito recipe, published by The Liquor Cabinet – Liquorland.