Mojito Pitcher

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/22/21
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
A pitcher of Mojito with two glasses of mojito garnished with lime wheels and fresh mint

The Spruce Eats / Isabella DiRenzo

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Cool Syrup: 60 mins
Total: 85 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 1 1/2 quarts

The crisp, refreshing taste of a made-from-scratch mojito is ideal for hot summer days. However, while it's a great rum cocktail, making mojitos for a crowd involves a bit more work than you might like. Instead of muddling mint, sugar, and lime, and adding rum, ice, and club soda to each glass, take a relaxed approach with this mojito pitcher recipe. It's a fabulous pour-and-serve cocktail for small parties that you can make in advance.

This pitcher drink has the same great taste as a classic Cuban mojito. The recipe replaces the mojito's mint and sugar with homemade mint simple syrup to eliminate the need for a muddler (or the handy wooden spoon alternative). It's easy to make and will be cool and ready to use within an hour.

To complement the mint syrup, use freshly squeezed lime juice and your favorite light rum. When your guests arrive, add the sparkle of club soda and dress the drinks up with fresh mint and lime garnishes.

"This recipe is ingenious. The problem with making a mojito is that you can never make just one, and muddling multiple mojitos can be cumbersome. Making a mint syrup is the elbow-saving answer. This cocktail is crisp, refreshing, crushable, and fun. Why shouldn’t you have a pitcher of this delight for a group of friends?" —Sean Johnson

Mojito Pitcher Recipe Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Mint Simple Syrup:

For the Pitcher Mojito:

  • 1 1/2 cups light rum

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups mint simple syrup, to taste

  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice, from 6 to 8 limes, to taste

  • 2 cups club soda, chilled

  • Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

  • Lime slices, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Mint Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Mint Syrup ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the sugar and stir constantly until it is completely dissolved.

    Sugar and water in a saucepan with a wooden spoon, on a burner

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and tear the mint leaves while adding them to the syrup. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and let cool completely.

    Mint leaves with sugar syrup in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain the mint from the syrup using a fine-mesh strainer.

    Mint leaves strained into a saucepan, and mint syrup in a measuring cup

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Transfer the mint syrup to an airtight bottle or jar, and keep it refrigerated.

    Mint Syrup in a glass bottle

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Make the Pitcher Mojito

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Pitcher Mojito ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Juice 6 to 8 limes, straining out the pulp, to produce about 1 1/2 cups of juice.

    Limes juiced squeezed and strained into a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. In a pitcher, add the rum and 1 cup each of the mint syrup and lime juice. Add more syrup or juice to taste; make this base a little strong because it will be diluted with club soda. Keep chilled until needed.

    Rum, mint syrup and lime juice in a pitcher

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Just before you're ready to serve the mojitos, add the chilled club soda to the pitcher.

    Club soda added to the alcohol mixture in the pitcher

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Pour the sparkling mojito mix into ice-filled glasses. Garnish each with a sprig of mint and lime slice.

    Mojito Pitcher with mojitos in glasses, garnished with lime slices and mint

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • The mint syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.
  • Combine the rum, mint syrup, lime juice a few hours in advance and keep it chilled until ready to serve.

Recipe Variations

  • To make a pitcher of nonalcoholic mojitos, replace the rum with more club soda. This mocktail version is also excellent with a second sweeter soda like ginger ale or sparkling grape juice.
  • Give your mojito pitcher an extra fruity touch. One easy way is to use flavored rum (coconut, mango, or any citrus fruit is excellent) as a substitute for all or part of the light rum. Alternatively, add sliced strawberries and whole blueberries or raspberries to the pitcher, and let them infuse the drink with flavor while it chills overnight.
  • Another option is to add mashed fruits (about one cup) or fruit juice (replacing 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the water) to the syrup. Any berry or melon pairs well with mint, and pomegranate is a fun option.

How Strong Is the Mojito Pitcher?

The nonalcoholic ingredients outweigh the rum in this pitcher mojito, so it's a relatively mild cocktail. When made with an 80-proof rum, the alcohol content falls around 10 percent ABV (20 proof). That's similar to a glass of wine, and the ice will dilute it a little more in the glass.

What Kind of Rum Is Best in a Mojito?

Traditionally, light rum is used in the mojito. It's probably the best choice when serving a group because its taste has a universal appeal that everyone will enjoy. However, aged rums make nice mojitos as well. Avoid spiced rums that contrast the lime and mint. Whatever style of rum you choose, mid-shelf brands tend to have a clean taste that will complement the mojito's freshness but won't blow your entertaining budget.

Can I Use Vodka Instead of Rum in a Mojito?

Vodka is an excellent alternative to light rum in drinks like the mojito. The two liquors have similar profiles, though vodka's taste is more transparent. Just remember that it's not a true mojito without rum!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
209 Calories
0g Fat
37g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 209
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 26mg 130%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 98mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)