Elderflower Mojito
Muddle; Churn ∙ 4 min ∙ 21.8% ABV ∙
The Elderflower Mojito is a swizzled highball of white rum, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime, and mint, a floral twist on the classic Cuban mojito. Fresh mint and lime lead, then elderflower liqueur softens the edge with a honeyed, floral sweetness that lingers into a light, garden-like finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the glass, lightly muddle: Fresh mint leaves 12 pcs
- Add the remaining ingredients: White rum 60 mlElderflower liqueur 30 mlLime juice 15 ml
- Fill the glass 2/3 full with crushed ice and churn with a bar spoon
- Top with more crushed ice and churn again
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Press mint leaves gently against the glass with a bar spoon rather than muddling hard, releasing oils without shredding leaves into bitter fragments.
- Build over crushed ice and swizzle with a bar spoon in a rapid up-and-down motion until the glass frosts, chilling the drink without over-diluting it.
- Add the elderflower liqueur after the rum and lime juice so its delicate floral aroma isn't crushed during the swizzling motion.
- Top with a final layer of crushed ice after swizzling, then slap the mint sprig against the palm before garnishing to release aromatics.
History
The Elderflower Mojito is a modern twist on the classic Cuban Mojito, adding an elderflower liqueur to the traditional rum, lime, mint, and soda combination for a floral note. The Mojito itself traces to Havana, Cuba, its disputed origin running from the El Draque legend to plantation-era accounts, with the name first appearing in print on Sloppy Joe's Bar's 1931-32 souvenir menu. The elderflower variation follows the rise of elderflower liqueurs such as St-Germain, launched in 2007, which bartenders adopted as a floral addition to classic cocktails, giving rise to riffs like this one that swap in elderflower for part of the traditional sweetening to add a delicate floral edge to the Mojito's mint and lime.
