Easy
Herb & Fresh
3 minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
Fresh and cooling, the Virgin Mojito is the perfect non-alcoholic option for any summer party.
How to Make a Virgin Mojito
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Citrus Elbow
Bar Spoon
How to Mix
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Grab a handful of mint leaves (approx. 6-8), give them a slap to “wake up” their flavor and aroma before placing them in a highball glass.
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Cut your limes in half and then using a citrus elbow (or citrus press) to juice them.
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Use a jigger (or measuring instrument) to measure and pour the lime juice into the glass.
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Use a jigger to measure and add simple syrup into the glass.
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Fill your glass with crushed ice.
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Top with soda water.
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Stir gently with a bar spoon.
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Garnish with a couple of mint leaves.
All about the Virgin Mojito
A Virgin Mojito is a non-alcoholic version of the Mojito, a classic rum cocktail from Cuba.
Also known as a Nojito, a Virgin Mojito is made with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and soda water, served in a highball glass with crushed ice.
A Virgin Mojito is fresh, tart, and herbaceous, featuring bright, zesty lime flavors complemented by the subtle sweetness of mint and sugar. All of this is mixed with crisp, clean, bubbly soda water, making it a perfect summer sip.
While the exact origins of the Mojito cocktail remain a mystery, most sources trace it back to the 1580s. The emergence of its non-alcoholic counterpart – the Virgin Mojito – is even less documented. It likely originated in the late 20th century as bartenders recipes for guests seeking alcohol-free alternatives.
- Pick the right mint
Use mojito mint or spearmint for your Virgin Mojito as they have more aroma and less bitterness. - Fresh lime juice
Using quality ingredients will always result in better tasting drinks. This is especially true when you’re making a drink with few ingredients. Therefore, we highly recommend making your own lime juice. Bottled juice just doesn’t deliver the same zing. - Slap the mint leaves
Contrary to popular opinion, we recommend slapping your mint leaves instead of muddling. Simply give your mint leaves a gentle slap to release the flavor and aroma. If you muddle mint like on the video in this page, do so carefully otherwise you will release the chlorophyll from the leaves, which will lead to a bitter, astringent, and “grassy” flavor.
- Add apple juice
Add 60 ml of apple juice to your Virgin Mojito before topping up with soda water to add a new flavor element not found in a classic Mojito. See the video on this page. - Add elderflower cordial
Add 15 ml elderflower cordial to add a unique floral, fruity, and sweet flavor to your Virgin Mojito.
- We recommend serving a Virgin Mojito in a highball glass filled with crushed ice. Crushed ice melts quickly, providing an instant chill and rapid dilution to your drink.
- If you’re like us and believe there’s no such thing as too much mint in a Mojito, garnish your Virgin Mojito with a sprig of mint and a few extra mint leaves on top.
- Layer your drink with lime wheels. Start by adding a lime wheel, followed by some crushed ice. Repeat with another lime wheel and more crushed ice. For garnish, place a lime wheel on the rim of your glass.
- If you want to mix up your garnish, add a couple of sliced strawberries into your drink or perch a whole strawberry on the edge of your highball glass.
Virgin Mojito FAQ
A classic Mojito is made with light rum, lime juice, simple syrup and mint, whereas a Virgin Mojito is non alcoholic, leaving out the rum but with the addition of soda water.
It’s best to mix a Virgin Mojito right before serving for maximum minty aroma and fizz, but you can squeeze your limes to make lime juice in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
For the best mint flavor, always use fresh mojito mint or spearmint. Don’t muddle the leaves as this can make the leaves bitter. Instead, give the leaves a gentle slap to “wake” them up.
A Virgin Mojito is made with lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and soda water.
No, a Virgin Mojito is non-alcoholic.
Most definitely! Fresh, crisp and cooling, a Virgin Mojito is a perfect summer sipper.
