Orange Mojito

An Orange Mojito gives the beloved Mojito cocktail a fresh twist by adding the unmistakable sweetness and vibrant taste of mandarin.

Like the original, an Orange Mojito is a built drink, meaning everything is made in the glass – no shaking, no blending. Served in a tall highball glass over layers of crushed ice, it mixes light rum, mandarin-flavored vodka, mandarin-flavored liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup and muddled mint leaves.

The Orange Mojito bursts with the sweet, ripe flavors of mandarin from both the vodka and liqueur. It’s complemented by the smooth sweetness of light rum and balanced with zesty lime juice and cooling mint. Fresh and well-balanced, an Orange Mojito is a citrus lover’s delight.

The Orange Mojito was created in 2001 in Sydney, Australia by an award-winning Scottish bartender.

The original Mojito, which is the inspiration for the Orange Mojito, is said to date back as far as the 16th century in Cuba.

• Muddle with care
  First, slap the mint leaves in the palm of your hands before muddling. When you muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of your glass, lightly press and twist them to release oils, but don’t press too hard.Over-muddling mint releases chlorophyll and will tear the leaves into small bits, creating a bitter, grassy taste.
• Crushed ice
  Use crushed ice, not ice cubes. Crushed ice is ideal for mojitos because it cools the drink rapidly, and provides the right amount of dilution to balance the bold flavors.
• Fresh lime juice
  The zest and acidity of the lime juice should cut through the sweetness of the other ingredients. Therefore, be sure to use fresh lime juice, not the bottled stuff you find in supermarkets. Grab a couple of limes and a citrus press and you’re all set.
• Make your own simple syrup
  It’s called simple syrup because it’s simple to make. Avoid store-bought stuff, which can often have preservatives or other ingredients. All you need is sugar and water – that’s it. Check out our article, which explains how to make simple syrup.

• Add soda water
  A classic Mojito includes soda water (or club soda), which is used to top off the cocktail and provide a bubbly, finish. Feel free to do the same for your Orange Mojito.
• Mojito
  The Orange Mojito is, of course, a twist on a classic Mojito so it’s only fair that we mention the original. This beloved, classic Cuban cocktail mixes light rum, sugar, mint and lime juice to create one of the greatest drinks on the planet. Check out the recipe for a classic Mojito.
• Vodka Mojito
  While the Orange Mojito is very much its own drink, a Vodka Mojito sticks closer to the classic Mojito recipe. It includes muddled mint, lime juice, simple syrup, and soda water, but substitutes the light rum from the traditional Mojito for original Absolut Vodka. Discover the recipe for a Vodka Mojito.
• Virgin Mojito
  One of the best mocktails around, the Virgin Mojito mixes lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and soda water A perfect drink to sip on a summer’s day. Learn how to make a Virgin Mojito.
• Cosmojito
  What happens when you mix a Mojito with a Cosmopolitan? A Cosmojito happens! The best of both worlds, a Cosmojito mixes light rum, Absolut Citron, which is the star of show in a Cosmo, cranberry juice, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup and, of course, mint leaves. Check out the recipe fora Cosmojito.

• We recommend serving an Orange Mojito in a highball glass or a Collins glass filled with crushed ice.  You need a glass tall enough to hold all the liquid and crushed ice.
• Although our drink recipe doesn’t include a garnish, the mint leaves themselves provide a visual cue. However, adding a sprig of mint or a lime wedge can enhance the presentation nicely.
• To emphasize the fact that the Orange Mojito is a citrusy twist on a Mojito, you could garnish your drink with a orange wheel.