The mint patch is in full swing and with so much mint I’m creating riffs on the classics like this Chocolate Mojito. I had no idea when I mixed this together that it would be a) so refreshing and b) a fabulous flavor combination. I hadn’t combined lime and chocolate in a highball-type cocktail and I may batch this cocktail for my next porch session.
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What is a Mojito?
A Mojito is a cocktail in the style of a highball drink. It’s close to the Tom Collins due to the addition of the citrus, and with a little bit of the essence of a smash/julep thrown in to account for that lovely sprig of mint added to it.
In its classic form, the Mojito muddles lime, mint, and simple syrup. It then adds white rum and ice for an icy cold drink with soda for a bit of effervescence. It’s a summer that doesn’t mind taking a minute or two to muddle the flavors together.
Originally created in Cuba, there’s some debate on the true source of the classic Mojito cocktail, but the first written description came in 1932 in “Sloppy Joe’s Bar Cocktail Manual” from the eponymous bar. Some sources link the Mojito to the English Navy tradition of combining spirits, citrus, and sugar to keep sailors from suffering from scurvy on long sea voyages.
Other origin stories attribute it to La Bodeguita del Media in Havana – a bar favored by famous writers, artists, and social leaders of the time, including Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nat King Cole, and Salvador Allende. It’s claimed Ernest Hemingway was a regular, but although he may have visited, he didn’t often patronize the bar.
How to Make a Chocolate Mojito
To make this easy Chocolate Mojito we’ll add creme de cacao (or chocolate whiskey) to the classic white rum cocktail, and use a chocolate mint variety to muddle and garnish the drink. Because the chocolate liquor is so sweet, I added just a touch of simple syrup to balance out the lime, but depending on the brand of chocolate liqueur you use, you might not need any. As always, sweeten to taste.
To make this cocktail as easy as possible, we’ll build it in a glass, like we might a Highball or Collins cocktail. Like the classic, start by putting your lime juice, chocolate mint leaves and creme de cacao in the bottom of your highball glass and muddle briefly. Mint doesn’t need to be muddled for long. In fact, if you over-muddle it, the drink will turn bitter. Use a light touch.
If you use a chocolate whiskey, like Ballotin, the drink will be tea-colored, but still taste wonderful. If you don’t mind a darker drink, see if you can find Ballotin Original Chocolate or Chocolate Mint varieties.
Once everything is muddled together, add the white rum (Cuban preferred, of course), give the cocktail a good stir, and add crushed ice. Stir vigorously until the outside of the glass gets very cold and frosty. Next, then top off with a bit of soda water and garnish with a sprig of fresh chocolate mint.
You can, of course, use cubed ice. Some people prefer cubes, but I love the crushed ice to frost over the outside of the glass. It dilutes faster, so you have less time to drink it, but the Chocolate Mojito tastes so good you’ll have no problem with that.
Tips to Batching the Chocolate Mojito
You can batch the liquid ingredients together, but I recommend muddling the drinks one at a time to get the freshest mint taste in each cocktail. To batch 8 ahead of time, combine the following in a pitcher and keep refrigerated.
- 2 cups white rum
- 3/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 3/4 cup light creme de cacao or Ballotin Whiskey Original Chocolate or Chocolate Mint (it will make the Mojito darker)
To make a cocktail, add 12 leaves of mint to the bottom of a glass with 3.5 ounces of the prepared batched cocktail. Muddle lightly. Add crushed ice, stir briefly to quickly chill the cocktail. Top with soda, a mint sprig, and add a straw.
Other Cocktails You Might Enjoy
Recommended Bar Tools
You don’t need every slick, beautiful bar tool out there, but there are several I’ll recommend. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, that does not affect the cost of the items below.) My favorite pieces usually come from the Cocktail Kingdom section of Amazon:
You may already have these bar essentials, but just in case:
Chocolate Mojito
Ingredients
- 2 oz white rum
- 3/4 oz lime juice
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 3/4 oz light creme de cacao or @ballotinwhiskey chocolate or chocolate mint it will make the Mojito darker
- 12 mint leaves
- 2-4 oz soda as needed
- garnish: mint sprig/lime wheel
Instructions
- Add simple syrup, juice, creme de cacao, and mint leaves to a highball glass. Muddle gently. Add rum and stir to combine. Fill with crushed ice and stir briefly until very well chilled. Top with soda and garnish with a spanked mint sprig.
