Vodka Mojito
Churn ∙ 3 min ∙ 16.1% ABV ∙
The Vodka Mojito is a churned highball of vodka, fresh mint, lime juice, and sugar syrup topped with soda, a vodka-based twist on the classic rum Mojito. Crushed ice delivers a slushy, cooling texture while the fizzy top stretches the finish long, clean, and refreshingly tart rather than sweet.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Add the first 4 ingredients into the chilled glass: Fresh mint leaves 14 pcsVodka 60 mlLime juice 20 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Fill the glass 2/3 full with crushed ice
- Churn with a bar spoon and then fill the glass with more crushed ice
- Top with a splash of Soda water, briefly stir and serve
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Churn, don't muddle hard — a few gentle presses with the bar spoon release mint oils without turning the leaves bitter and grassy.
- Pack the crushed ice in two stages so the drink stays cold through the churn without over-diluting before the soda goes in.
- Add the soda water last and only stir briefly, so it keeps its fizz instead of going flat under the ice.
- Pre-chill the glass before building so the crushed ice doesn't start melting the moment it goes in.
History
The Vodka Mojito has no documented creator or dated origin story of its own: it is a straightforward modern variant that simply swaps vodka in for rum, made popular as bars and home mixologists adapted the classic recipe for drinkers who prefer a neutral spirit to rum's flavor.
Its parent, the Mojito, is a Cuban highball generally traced to Havana, though the specifics of when and by whom are disputed. One widely repeated legend credits an early version to the 16th-century English privateer Sir Francis Drake, while other accounts point instead to Cuban plantation workers and African-influenced roots; the earliest known printed recipe appears on a 1931 souvenir menu from Sloppy Joe's bar in Havana, alongside a similar gin-based version, showing the drink was not always rum-exclusive even in its early history. The Vodka Mojito departs from that lineage in the single defining way its name states, replacing the rum base with vodka for a cleaner, less flavor-forward spirit character.
FAQ
Can I use vodka instead of rum in a mojito?
Yes, swapping vodka for rum is a common variation that gives a cleaner, more neutral spirit base while keeping the mint, lime, and soda intact. This build uses vodka as the base spirit, so the mint and lime read more sharply since there is no rum sweetness to round them out.
What is the vodka version of a mojito called?
It is called a Vodka Mojito, made with vodka instead of rum. It is churned over crushed ice in a highball glass and finished with a mint sprig, giving it a lighter, less sweet backbone than the classic version.
How do you make a Vodka Mojito?
Pre-chill a highball glass, then add fresh mint leaves, vodka, lime juice, and sugar syrup. Fill the glass two-thirds with crushed ice and churn with a bar spoon, top up with more crushed ice, add a splash of soda water, stir briefly, and garnish with a mint sprig.
What is the secret to a good Vodka Mojito?
The key is churning the mint gently rather than crushing it hard, which releases its oils without turning the drink bitter. Using freshly squeezed lime juice and adding the soda water last, with only a brief stir, also keeps the drink bright and properly fizzy rather than flat and diluted.
What are some variations of the Vodka Mojito?
Besides swapping rum for vodka, common variations add fruit purees or muddled berries such as strawberry or raspberry, swap in flavored syrups, or use a flavored vodka in place of the plain spirit.
