Average
Fresh & Sour
3 Minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
The Vodka Mojito is a modern twist on the classic Cuban Mojito – fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water, with Absolut Vodka stepping in for the rum. The vodka gives it a cleaner, slightly sharper character than the rum original.
Made with Absolut Vodka, fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water, served over crushed ice in a highball glass – a natural choice for outdoor gatherings, summer parties and anywhere the original Mojito would feel right at home.
How To Make a vodka mojito
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Muddler
How to Mix
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Use a jigger to measure and pour Simple Syrup into a highball glass.
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Add Mint Leaves into the glass and use a muddler to gently muddle.
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Cut a Lime in half then and use a citrus elbow to juice the Lime halves. Save a Lime Wheel for garnishing.
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Measure and pour the Lime Juice into the glass.
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Fill the highball glass with crushed ice.
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Measure and pour in the Absolut Lime.
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Top off with Soda Water.
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Use a bar spoon to give the drink a gentle stir.
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Garnish with a Lime Wheel and a Sprig of Mint.
All about the Vodka Mojito
A Vodka Mojito is a twist on the classic Cuban Mojito – the same combination of fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup and soda water, with vodka in place of white rum.
Where rum brings its own underlying sweetness to the original, vodka is cleaner and smoother, letting the bright citrus and herbal notes of the lime and mint come through more directly. The difference is noticeable: crisper, sharper and a little less sweet than the classic.
“You get the lime vodka, the fruit, perfectly balanced and sweetened with sugar syrup, elevated by that tiny amount of soda water – all wrapped up with the notes of fresh mint,” explains Rico.
Where the original Mojito carries the warm, fruity depth of rum, the vodka version is cleaner and sharper – mint and lime front and centre, nothing getting in their way.
When muddling the mint and lime, a light touch is all it takes. Over-muddling releases bitter compounds from the mint that can throw the whole drink off balance. Not sure what a muddler is? Here’s everything you need to know about essential bartending tools.
The Vodka Mojito is a modern variation of the classic Cuban cocktail, the Mojito. The ingredients are the same as a traditional Mojito but uses vodka instead of rum as the base spirit. The exact origins of the vodka-based version aren’t documented, but it likely emerged during vodka’s popularity boom in the 1980s or 90s.
The Vodka Mojito is an easy-to-make drink – but these details make it a great one.
- Chill your glass
Place your highball glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving. A cold glass keeps the drink colder for longer and makes that first sip considerably better. Just remember to discard any ice or water before you pour. - Muddle gently
When muddling the mint and lime, a light touch is all it takes. Over-muddling releases bitter compounds from the mint that can throw the whole drink off balance. Not sure what a muddler is? Here’s everything you need to know about essential bartending tools. - Don’t skimp on the mint…and place it wisely
Use 6-8 fresh mint leaves for a more pronounced mint flavor, but where you place the garnish matters just as much as how much you use.As Rico explains, “the flavor of the mint actually comes from the mint sprig that’s next to the straw because aroma is 80% of the flavor and mint is nothing more than an aroma.”Want to test that for yourself? Rico suggests this: “Take one mint leaf and really screw it up. Put that on a spoon with some sugar and stick it into your mouth but hold your nose. You will not be able to taste the mint whatsoever, only the sugar. Let go of your nose and you’re going to see an immense amount of mint flavor suddenly hit your taste buds. That’s because mint is an aroma. Without that mint sprig next to your straw, you’re not going to taste the mint in a Mojito.”
- Not all soda water is the same
It’s worth experimenting. Club soda adds a subtle mineral quality, while seltzer – plain carbonated water – keeps things neutral and lets the lime and mint take center stage.
- Try it with Absolut Lime
Swap Absolut Vodka for Absolut Lime and the citrus character of the drink gets a further boost — the natural lime flavor of the vodka amplifying the fresh lime juice and giving the drink a sharper, more citrus-forward edge. - Strawberry Mojito
The Strawberry Mojito is basically a Vodka Mojito but with the addition of a fresh strawberry garnish. The strawberry complements the mint and zesty lime, creating a harmonious blend of flavors not to mention a pop of color, enhancing its visual appeal. - Absolut Lime Lemonade
A zesty concoction, blending Absolut Lime with tart lemonade, complemented by muddled blackberries for a burst of fruity sweetness. Garnished with fresh mint leaves, it’s a wonderful balance of citrus and berry flavors. - Mint Lemonade
Looking for an alcohol free alternative? Then, you’ll love this. Mix lemon juice, simple syrup, and mint leaves and garnish with a lemon wheel. Now that’s one crisp and citrusy fresh drink. Here’s how to make a Mint Lemonade.
The finishing touches matter. Here’s how to make yours count.
- Build in the glass
Muddle six whole mint leaves and four lime quarters directly in your chilled highball glass, then fill with crushed ice. - Classic garnish
A sprig of fresh mint and a lime wheel on the rim. Simple, elegant and immediately recognisable – everything a Mojito garnish should be. - Add some color
Float a few fresh raspberries or blackberries on top for a burst of color and a subtle fruity note that plays beautifully against the mint and lime.
You get the lime vodka, lime fruit, perfectly balanced and sweetened with that sugar syrup, elevated by that tiny amount of soda water, all wrapped up with the notes of fresh mint.
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Vodka Mojito FAQ
The three most common Vodka Mojito mistakes are over-muddling the mint, using bottled lime juice and adding the soda water too early.
- Over-muddling the mint
Pressing too hard releases bitter compounds rather than the aromatic oils that give the drink its character. A light touch for no more than a few seconds is all it takes. - Using bottled lime juice
Bottled lime juice lacks the brightness and acidity of fresh – squeeze it to order, every time. - Adding the soda water too early
Always add the soda water last, after stirring – pour it in too early and you’ll lose the fizz before the drink reaches the glass.
Absolutely! Three popular alternatives you likely already have at home are honey, maple syrup, and agave. To make a syrup-like consistency with honey or agave, simply add warm water to them. Another popular option is Stevia – but take note: Stevia is much, much sweeter than sugar – anywhere between 50 to 300 times sweeter!
A traditional Mojito is made with white rum but vodka is the most popular alternative. Swap the rum for vodka and you have a Vodka Mojito, sometimes called a Vojito, though Vodka Mojito is the name you’ll find on most cocktail menus and recipe sites.
Both work. It comes down to personal preference. Rum brings a natural sweetness and depth, while vodka gives the drink a cleaner, more citrus-forward character.
A Mojito made with vodka instead of light rum is called a Vodka Mojito. Makes sense, right?
You certainly can – scroll up and you’ll find the recipe for a Vodka Mojito!
To make a pitcher that serves six, multiply the Vodka Mojito recipe on this page by six. Muddle the mint and simple syrup in the bottom of the pitcher first, then add the lime juice and Absolut Vodka and stir to combine. Refrigerate for up to four hours.
Just before serving, fill the pitcher with crushed ice and top with chilled soda water – adding the soda last keeps the carbonation intact. Garnish each glass with a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig.
