Mad River Distillers’ Mojito Season Recipes
The delightfully refreshing Mojito. It’s the ultimate summer drink with its requisite ingredient, mint. Originating from Cuba, a Mojito is traditionally made with just five ingredients, including white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water and mint. However, there are plenty of riffs out there, including those that are more fruit-forward, with mint as just a garnish. Now that it’s officially summer, and National Mojito Day is upon us (July 11th), we wanted to share a roundup of our favorite Mad River Distillers’ Mojito recipes for you to try at home this summer.
All of the recipes below are made with our Rum 44 or our Vanilla Rum. Rum 44 is our American Demerara silver rum, which recently received a Gold Ascot Award. It’s an excellent rum in infusions and in mixed drinks such as Mojitos. Our Vanilla Rum is a clear rum infused with fresh chopped Tahitian vanilla beans, which works excellent in summertime cocktails.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1 oz. of simple syrup
-2 oz. of soda water
-6 mint leaves
-1 sprig of mint
-1/2 cup chopped watermelon
-2-3 watermelon wedges for garnish
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker, add 6 mint leaves and muddle them. Chop ½ cup of watermelon into squares and add them to the shaker, then muddle again until it is juiced. Add the rum, lime juice and simple syrup to the shaker with ice. Shake well, then double strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water, then garnish with 2-3 wedges of watermelon and a fresh sprig of mint.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1 oz. of Limoncello
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of simple syrup
-soda water
-3 mint leaves
-1 sprig of mint
Instructions:
In a cocktail shaker, add 6 mint leaves and muddle them. Chop ½ cup of watermelon into squares and In a cocktail shaker, muddle 3 mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup. Add the Rum 44 and Limoncello to the shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water, then garnish with a mint sprig.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Rum 44
-3/4 oz. of lime juice
-3/4 oz. of mint simple syrup
-1/4 oz. of Baird Farm Mint Infused Vermont Maple Syrup
-2 dashes of Fee Brothers Mint Bitters
-Club soda or seltzer to top
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the club soda (or seltzer) in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir to incorporate ingredients, then top with the club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.
To Make Mint Simple Syrup:
Combine 3 cups of simple syrup (a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in hot water) with 1 cup of pressed mint leaves. Blanch the mint in boiling water for 15 seconds, then immediately remove the mint leaves and immerse them in ice water for 1 minute. Strain the leaves from the ice water. Blend the cooled simple syrup with the mint leaves for 1 minute, then strain well. Store the cooled mint simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/2 oz. of Simple Syrup
-1/2 oz. of Lime Juice
-1 oz. of Queen City Blueberry Kombucha
-Fever Tree Club Soda
Instructions:
Combine rum, sugar, and lime in a shaker over ice. Shake briefly. Strain contents into a Highball glass and add Kombucha. Top off with club soda. Garnish with Mint Sprig.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-2 oz. of RUM 44
-1 oz. of Lime Juice
-3/4 oz. of Simple Syrup
-6 Fresh Mint Leaves
Instructions:
In a blender, add all ingredients with 1/2 cup crushed ice. Blend on low until finely crushed. Pour contents into a highball. Add a fresh mint sprig for garnish.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of RUM 44
-1/2 oz. of Lemon Juice
-1/2 oz. of Honey Syrup
-4 Fresh Blackberries
-Club Soda
-Lemon Wedge
-Mint Sprig
Instructions:
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Strain contents into a glass over a fresh ice. Top with bubbles. Add a lemon wedge and mint sprig for garnish.
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail
-1.5 oz. of RUM 44
-1/2 oz. of Royal Rose Raspberry Simple Syrup
-3/4 oz. of Lime Juice
-Club soda
-Mint Sprig
In a shaker, add all ingredients with ice. Shake for about 8-15 seconds. Strain contents into a Highball glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda. Add a fresh mint sprig for garnish.
If you love mint, it’s one of the easiest herbs you can grow right in your home garden. Mint will grow in full sun or partial shade, and can thrive in most soils. However, it can grow and spread quickly, so consider keeping it in a separate container or flower bed. Before you know it, you’ll have all the fresh mint you need to make the Mojito recipes above all summer long.
Need other supplies? Be sure to stop by our Burlington Tasting Room, where you can find our rums and other spirits, as well as bitters and a variety of syrups. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on July 10, 2023.
