10 Drink Alternatives To Switch It Up From Your Go-To Mojito

Forbes

09-07-2025

A classic mojito is hard to beat on a summer day, but if you want to switch things around, we have ... More alternatives.
The mojito is a quintessential summer cocktail. Light and refreshing, this Cuban classic combines rum, mint, lime juice, sugar and soda water, a super simple recipe that results in an extremely sippable thirst quencher. But if you're looking to switch things up a bit this summer, we have a few cocktail alternatives to your favorite mojito. But first things first:
What Makes A Mojito A Mojito?
A traditional mojito is defined as a cocktail made from white rum, fresh mint, sugar and fresh lime juice. Of course, there are variations on the theme which have been popping up at bars and restaurants everywhere.
As is the case for many classic cocktails, the origin of the mojito is uncertain and disputed. The most widely accepted theory claims the drink derives from "El Draque," an earlier drink named after Sir Francis Drake, who allegedly created it as a tonic to combat ailments like scurvy, combining sugarcane juice, lime juice and aguardiente de caña, a sugarcane spirit precursor to rum.
Centuries later, the cocktail was popularized thanks to the birth of the Bacardi Company and the famed 'La Bodeguita del Medio' in Havana, where Ernest Hemmingway enjoyed their particular version of the drink. Although Cuban rum is preferred, it is hard to find in the U.S.
A mojito made with Ron Del Barrilito, Puerto Rico's oldest rum, is just as delicious as if made with ... More Cuban rum.
Add mint to a shaker and lightly muddle into the sugar syrup. Add the rum, lime juice and ice, give it a quick shake, then strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Add soda water on top and garnish with a mint sprig.
Simple Mojito Variations to Make at Home
If you want to switch things up a bit this summer, here are a few ideas to change the flavors of your mojito that are just as easy to craft at home and keep the soul of the drink almost intact.
A basil mojito is a great alternative to the classic. You can combine fresh basil with the mint or substitute it completely for a more savory version of the drink. Basil and mint go fabulously together, anyway.
Swap the mint for fresh basil in your mojito for a more savory take on the classic.
Substitute the traditional lime for lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or a combination of citrus juices for a sweeter variation that's just as refreshing as the original.
Muddling your favorite fruit into your mojito is a game changer, as many bars already do. Fruity variations go from muddling a handful of strawberries to tropical takes made with mango, pineapple, and my personal favorite, passionfruit. You can skip the lime juice if you want, but I recommend using in addition to the fruit to keep the balance of sweet and sour.
You can also add flavored rums to amp up the fresh fruit flavor. Coconut rum with the classic lime and mint would be stellar, for instance. If using berries, BACARDÍ Raspberry Flavored Rum would fit the bill.
Change Up Your Mojito With A Different Liquor
Purists will probably argue that, once you skip the rum, the delicious cocktail you'll be crafting is no longer a mojito, and I can't argue with that. But since we are in full change-it-up mode, let's explore a couple ideas.
Swapping the white rum for aged or even spiced rum is a first step. The flavor will be richer and more pronounced in the molasses department, but keeping the acidity of the lime and herbaceousness of the mint should balance it all out. Craving a mojito but you are fresh out of rum? No worries. Here are a couple of recipes using different spirits.
A mojito made with Rémy Martin? Why not!
Add all ingredients except sparkling water to shaker tin, shake with a small handful of pebbled ice (this doesn't break the mint leaves as much, which can look a bit messy. This is just adding dilution, expressing the mint oils, and aerating the ingredients.)
Pours into a Collins glass over ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with a bountiful mint sprig.
Another Bloody Mojito is made with gin infused with shiraz grapes.
Australia's Four Pillars uses shiraz grapes from nearby vineyards to add flavor and a stunning color to their Bloody Shiraz Gin. Try this cool mojito recipe idea for something completely different.
Combine all the ingredients except soda in a tin and shake with ice. Strain into a highball glass and add soda. Top with ice and garnish with a mint sprig.
Other Delicious Cocktails That Are Similar To The Mojito
Unlike many of the world's most popular cocktails that were invented by legendary bartenders at historic bars, restaurants, and hotels, the caipirinha's origins are less defined but certainly more grassroots. The Caipirinha is a drink of agricultural convenience, made with what grew abundantly around the peasants of central Brazil: lime, sugar, and cane distillate.
The caipirinha, simply made with fresh limes, sugar and cachaça, is the national drink of Brazil
This version uses my favorite cachaça, Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça, and includes blackberry liqueur and mint to make it closer to the mojito.
Muddle the limes and sugar in a shaker until the juice is fully squeezed and the sugar dissolves. Add mint leaves and gently press to release their flavor. Add cachaça, liqueur and ice, and shake. Pour everything into a rocks glass. Garnish with blackberries and fresh mint.
Created by Cuban-born Rosy Sierra Vilanova, the Casa Atlantica channels Miami's Cuban and Brazilian ... More vibes.
Served at Miami's Elastika and created by Rosy Sierra Vilanova, lead bartender at The Moore Miami, this cocktail channels the city's Cuban and Brazilian vibes.
Build all ingredients in glass. Serve with crushed ice and garnished with two green apple half moons.
Citrusy, fizzy, with a pleasant herbal touch, this spritz will do nicely in place of your go-to ... More mojito.
While the mojito is not technically a spritz, its refreshing fizzy qualities remind of a sparkling cocktail made with citrus and mint. Add the botanical, herbaceous taste of Lillet and a few slices of cucumber and you have yourself a winner. This recipe will serve a crowd.
In a pitcher, add citrus slices (lemon, orange or lime), fresh cucumber and loosely packed mint leaves. Pour in chilled Lillet Blanc, one bottle of Mumm Sparkling Brut Prestige and club soda. Stir to combine and serve over ice.