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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Mojito Mocktail (Sparkling!)

    Apr 18, 2022

    By Michelle Weiner

    This Mojito Mocktail is a light and refreshing party drink. Made with fresh mint, simple syrup, lime juice, and sparkling water, the delicious flavors and fun fizz won’t ever have you missing the rum!
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment
    2 mojito mocktails in glasses garnished with lime wheels.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This Mojito Mocktail is a light and refreshing party drink. Made with fresh mint, simple syrup, lime juice, and sparkling water, the delicious flavors and fun fizz won’t ever have you missing the rum!

    2 mojito mocktails in glasses garnished with lime wheels.
    Photos by Michelle Boulé
    Jump to:
    • What is a mojito?
    • What is a virgin mojito made of?
    • How to make a mojito mocktail
    • Customize your mint mojito mocktail
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe

    You’ll find all of the refreshing flavors of a classic mojito cocktail in this Mojito Mocktail. It’s easy to make in small or large batches using fresh mint, simple syrup, lime juice, and sparkling water. Every sip is light, thirst-quenching, and tart!

    Just like my Pineapple Ginger Beer Mocktail, you can serve this mint mojito mocktail for all kinds of celebrations. I’ll always whip up a batch for backyard barbecues, Fourth of July parties, Sunday brunch, and even baby showers. Besides, it’s so much more fun than soda or juice!

    The flavors are nicely balanced thanks to the tart lime juice and sweet, simple syrup. Fresh mint lends a refreshing layer, while sparkling water is a must for some fun fizz! It’s a delicious mocktail recipe that will make any guest feel special.

    2 mojito mocktails in glasses garnished with lime wheels.

    What is a mojito?

    A mojito is a Cuban cocktail originally invented in the 16th century. It was originally made for medicinal purposes but was so delicious, it became the world-famous cocktail it is today!

    Mojitos are made by first muddling mint leaves with sugar and lime juice before stirring in white rum. The finished drink is served in a highball glass, topped with sparkling water, and garnished with slices of lime and sprigs of mint.

    What is a virgin mojito made of?

    You’ll find almost all of the classic mojito ingredients in this mint mojito mocktail recipe, minus the rum. I’ve made a few adjustments purely for the sake of balance and flavor. Here’s what you need:

    Mint leaves

    The best type of mint for any mojito recipe is fresh spearmint. This variety is mild in flavor, very refreshing, and slightly sweet compared to peppermint. When the spearmint leaves are muddled in the glass, they release their natural oils and strong aroma, giving this mocktail its amazing baseline of flavor!

    ingredients for a mojito mocktail.

    Not a fan of mint leaves in your drink? Always shake and strain the drink! This step is crucial to avoid the larger leaves getting stuck in your straw or teeth.

    If you’d prefer to make the mojito mocktail without any leaves, simply swap the fresh mint and simple syrup for a homemade mint syrup instead. You’ll still end up with the balanced, refreshing, and sweet flavors without the mint in your teeth.

    Simple syrup

    You can always find a bottle of simple syrup in my fridge or on my bar cart because the sweetness will help balance the flavors in all kinds of cocktails and mocktails, like martinis, bellinis, and non-alcoholic punch. Simple syrup is easy to make at home using a 1:1 ratio of white granulated sugar to water. Heat the two together in a pot on the stove until the sugar dissolves, then bottle and enjoy.

    close up on a mojito mocktail.

    Lime juice

    I recommend squeezing your own limes with a citrus reamer for the freshest flavors, but you can always use bottled lime juice (this is our go-to store-bought lime juice) if you’re looking to save time. Make sure you have one or two extra limes for the garnish!

    Sparkling water 

    We top this mocktail with sparkling water for a fun fizz! Club soda or sparkling mineral water are great options as well.

    How to make a mojito mocktail

    This tart and refreshing mocktail recipe makes enough for two people, but you can always triple or quadruple the recipe if you’re serving a crowd. Thankfully, it’s really easy to put together:

    muddling mint leaves in a glass with a wood muddler.

    Step 1: Muddle the mint leaves with simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.

    glass filled with ice, lime juice, and mint leaves.

    Step 2: Add the lime juice and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled.

    two glasses filled with ice and lime juice.

    Step 3: Strain between two glasses filled with ice.

    pouring sparkling water into a glass with ice.

    Step 4: Top them off with sparkling water.

    2 mojito mocktails in glasses next to a bottle of sparkling water.

    Step 5: Stir, garnish, and enjoy!

    Customize your mint mojito mocktail

    Mint and lime are the classic flavor pairings in most mojito recipes, but there’s so much room for more flavor. Customize the mocktail by adding muddled or pureed fruit, fresh juices, or custom simple syrups. Any of these add-ins would be refreshing and delicious:

    • Blended and strained watermelon juice
    • Mango nectar or juice
    • Pineapple juice
    • Pureed and strained strawberries or raspberries
    • Blueberry syrup
    • Pomegranate juice
    • Lemon juice
    • Hibiscus syrup
    womans hand holding a mojito mocktail.

    Frequently asked questions

    What does a virgin mojito taste like?

    A non-alcoholic mojito tastes just as tart, fizzy, and refreshing as the classic cocktail. One of the main qualities of a mojito is how refreshing it tastes, and you don’t lose that here. The only flavor you’ll miss out on is the rum.

    How do you make a pitcher of mojito mocktails?

    Mix all of the ingredients (except the sparkling water) together in a pitcher (you can do this the night ahead if you’re looking to save a little time). Top it off with sparkling water when it’s time to serve, then enjoy!

    Can you add alcohol to this mocktail?

    Make sure all of your guests are happy by serving the non-alcoholic mojitos with a bottle of rum, vodka, or tequila on the side. 1 to 1 ½ ounces can be added to each serving.

    🎉 It's time to cook! 🎉

    Alright, friend! It's your turn to make this delish recipe for your next get-together.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When you do, please leave a comment and star rating below so we can hear what you think! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Recipe

    2 mojito mocktails in glasses garnished with lime wheels.

    Mojito Mocktail

    This Mojito Mocktail is a light and refreshing party drink. Made with fresh mint, simple syrup, lime juice, and sparkling water, the delicious flavors and fun fizz won’t ever have you missing the rum!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Rate Pin
    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American, Cuban
    Keyword: mocktail, party drinks, summer drink
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Makes: 2 servings

    Equipment

    cocktail shaker
    cocktail strainer
    cocktail jigger

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup tightly packed mint leaves
    • 3 tablespoons simple syrup
    • ¼ cup lime juice
    • 4 ounces sparkling water
    • Garnish: fresh mint leaves lime wedges

    Instructions

    • In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
    • Add lime juice, fill with ice and shake vigorously until chilled, about 30 seconds.
    • Strain between two glasses filled with ice and top off with sparkling water.
    • Stir, garnish and enjoy immediately!
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!
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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

    More about me →

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    Disclosure

    This site may include affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you purchase something through a link at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    woman with brown hair wearing a blue button up shirt smiling and holding a frozen mango margarita

    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

    More about me →

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    • Cinnamon Candy Apples - These vintage-inspired cinnamon candy apples are the perfect Fall treat! #retrorecipe
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    Disclosure

    This site may include affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission if you purchase something through a link at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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