Drinks • Mocktails

Virgin Mojito

Name: Virgin Mojito
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, from about 4 limes; 1/2 cup simple syrup (1/2 cup sugar dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water); 24 fresh mint leaves, plus 4 sprigs for garnish; 1 tbsp granulated sugar, optional, for muddling; 1 lime, cut into wedges; 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds; 3 cups ice cubes; 4 cups club soda, chilled

Lime, mint, and simple syrup shaken with ice and topped with club soda for a crisp alcohol-free party drink.

Updated: Nov 9, 2026

⏱ 10 mintotal

4servings

90 kcalper serving

Easylevel

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Why you'll like it

Ready in about 10 min.
Serves 4 — easy to halve or double.
Easy level — everyday equipment only.
Storage, freezing and reheating covered below.

This Virgin Mojito recipe takes 10 min and makes 4 servings. The drink keeps the lime, mint, and soda structure of a mojito and simply leaves out the rum, so it works at a New Year's Eve party where some guests are driving home or not drinking.

Helpful guides

Instructions

Step 1

Stir the sugar into hot water until it disappears completely, then cool the syrup to room temperature before mixing. Undissolved sugar sinks and leaves the last sips gritty, and warm syrup melts the ice faster than the drink needs.

Step 2

Put 6 mint leaves in each tall glass with 1 teaspoon of the optional sugar and press them 3 or 4 times with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Press and twist rather than shred, since torn leaves release chlorophyll that makes the drink taste grassy and bitter.

Step 3

Add 2 tablespoons of lime juice and 2 tablespoons of syrup to each glass and stir gently to combine. Let the glasses sit 5 minutes so the mint infuses the lime mixture, which builds flavor without more bruising.

Step 4

Fill the glasses with ice, then pour the chilled club soda slowly down the side until full. Add soda last and stir once from the bottom up, because stirring after the soda goes in costs most of the fizz.

Step 5

Garnish each glass with a lime wedge, a lemon slice, and a mint sprig, and add a straw so guests can stir as they drink. Clap the mint sprig against your palm first to open the leaves and release the aroma.

Step 6

For a pitcher, muddle the mint with the lime juice and syrup in the bottom of a large jug, add the lime wedges and lemon slices, and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Add the ice and club soda only at serving time so the mix stays carbonated.

Troubleshooting — fixes, not repeats

If the drink tastes bitter or grassy, the mint was over-muddled. Press it just until it smells bright, about 4 presses per glass, and strip the stems, which are the most bitter part.
If the mojito tastes flat, the soda was warm or the glass was stirred too much. Keep club soda in the refrigerator until the moment you pour and stir only once, from the bottom of the glass.
If it tastes too sweet, cut the syrup to 1 tablespoon per glass and top with an extra splash of soda. Lime should lead, and sweetness should only round the edges.
If the mint turns dark before guests arrive, the leaves were cut too early or left in a warm room. Keep garnishes in a glass of ice water in the refrigerator and add them at the last minute.

Make it your way

Spicier version: Swap the club soda for chilled ginger ale to make a sweeter, spicier pour and cut the syrup by half to compensate.
For a berry version, muddle 2 raspberries or 3 blackberries with the mint for a pink drink and strain it if you want a clear glass.
A cucumber mojito adds 3 thin cucumber slices per glass, pressed lightly alongside the mint.
A frozen version blends the base with 2 cups of ice until slushy and tops each glass with soda.

Storage & reheating

Cool leftovers within 2 hours, then refrigerate in a covered container and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat only the portion you will eat until steaming hot throughout — poultry and reheated rice should reach 165°F (74°C).

FAQ

Can I make it without simple syrup?
Yes. Muddle 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar with the mint and lime juice in each glass and stir about 30 seconds until it dissolves. The texture is slightly less silky than syrup but the flavor is the same. Honey stirred into warm water also works as a substitute.

Is there a substitute for club soda?
Sparkling water works and tastes less salty, while ginger ale or lemon-lime soda makes a sweeter drink that needs less syrup. Tonic water adds a bitter note some people like. Choose a fully chilled bottle either way so the drink keeps its fizz.

How do I keep it cold for a party?
Chill the base, the soda, and the glasses, and use large ice cubes that melt slowly. Set the ice in a separate bowl so guests add their own, since ice sitting in a pitcher waters the drink down. Top up with fresh soda rather than stirring the pitcher.