White rum might be traditional, but this summer, follow our gin mojito recipe for a cocktail that feels like a splash of sunshine in a glass.
Gin is actually a natural here – with its juniper and herbaceous edge giving this refreshing cocktail some additional depth and complexity. Read our expert guidance for mastering the mojito at home – and find our favourite version of the gin cocktail recipe below.
CRUSH YOUR ICE
One of the most important considerations when making this gin cocktail? Your ice. This drink hails from steamy Havana and is designed to cool you down during even the most sweltering summer afternoons. That means you’ll need crushed ice – and lots of it.
Luckily, you don’t need a fancy contraption to make it at home. Simply freeze your own ice, wrap the cubes in a clean linen towel, and gently crush using a mallet, heavy saucepan or other weighty kitchen implement.
GENTLY CHURN
Some cocktail enthusiasts take great pleasure in the muddling process – a hands-on technique that releases each ingredient’s most vivid flavours and essential oils. However, it can leave your mojito looking a little – well – murky. Rather than pounding your mint leaves into submission, gently churn the ingredients with crushed ice to draw out the refreshing aromatics.
EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR GINS
A classic mojito is historically made with white rum, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment. Gin happens to add a wonderful, botanical depth of complexity to the serve. And, given the range of flavoured gins that are now available, there’s more opportunity to play than ever.
Use a base of Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin to add a delectable, lemon-lime profile to your Lemon Drizzle Mojito, keep it classic with our London Dry Gin or opt for Sloe Gin to make a ripe, fruit-led Sloe-jito. The options for customising your gin mojito recipes are almost endless.
THE PERFECT LEMON DRIZZLE GIN MOJITO
- 50ml Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml lime juice
- 20ml sugar syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
- Soda water
- Lemon twist plus a mint spring, to garnish
Add the Lemon Drizzle Gin, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar syrup and 8-10 mint leaves in a glass. Churn with crushed ice. Top with more crushed ice and soda water, and garnish with mint leaves and a lemon twist.
THE PERFECT SLOE-JITO
- 50ml Sipsmith Sloe Gin
- 20ml lemon juice
- 20ml apple juice
- 8-10 mint leaves
Add all of the ingredients into a highball with crushed ice. Churn to mix the mint through, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Delicious year-round and a great autumnal refreshing serve, how about making a Sharing Sloe-jito for friends and family? For more crowd-pleasing cocktails, take a look at our Sips to Share inspiration featuring a sparkling Sharing Mimosa and Sharing Strawberry Smash Iced Tea.
LONDON DRY GIN MOJITO
Keep it classic with our award-winning London Dry Gin. To make this ginny twist on the Cuban classic, you’ll need:
- 50ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 20ml lime juice
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 6-8 mint leaves
- Ginger ale, to top
- Mint sprig, to garnish
Combine all ingredients with a small amount of ice in a highball glass, slapping the mint in your hand (a technique which expresses the oils in the leaf without destroying it). Swizzle with a stirrer or bar spoon and fill to the top with crushed ice, then top up with ginger ale. Garnish with a mint sprig, sip and enjoy!
Looking for more ginspiration? Find us on Instagram @sipsmith for a library of cocktail ginspiration, or click below.
