Mojitos For Your Wedding: A Refreshing Diy Guide

Mojitos are a popular choice for weddings, but they can be time-consuming to make. The traditional Cuban cocktail is made with white rum, lime, mint, sugar, and club soda, and the mint is typically muddled with the lime and sugar to release its flavour. However, this can create a lot of mess, so one option for making mojitos for a crowd is to make a mint syrup or cordial, which can be mixed with lime juice, rum, and soda water. This way, you only need three moves for ingredients: cordial, rum, and soda. You can also batch-make the cocktail by mixing the rum, lime juice, and syrup, and then pouring it over ice and adding soda water to each glass.

Ingredients and quantities

A mojito is a classic cocktail that originated in Cuba. It is made using a few simple ingredients, but the resulting drink is a perfect balance of sweet and tart, making it a refreshing choice for a summer wedding.

The ingredients you will need to make mojitos for a wedding are:

• White rum
• Mint (spearmint or mojito mint, which is native to Cuba)
• Lime (freshly squeezed)
• Sugar or simple syrup
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Ice

The quantities of each ingredient will depend on how many mojitos you want to make. Here are the quantities for one cocktail and for 100 cocktails:

For one cocktail:

• 1 1/2 fluid ounces of white rum
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 medium lime, cut into 3 wedges
• 2 tablespoons of sugar or simple syrup, or to taste
• 1/2 cup of club soda or sparkling water, or as needed
• 1 cup of ice cubes, or as needed

For 100 cocktails:

• 150 ounces of white rum
• Fresh mint leaves (approximately 400 sprigs, each about 5 to 6 inches long)
• 50 limes, cut into wedges
• 50 ounces of sugar or simple syrup
• 500 ounces of club soda or sparkling water
• 100 cups of ice cubes

Preparation and serving tips

Mojitos are a great choice for a wedding, being refreshing, delicious, and easy to make. Here are some tips to help you prepare and serve them:

Ingredients

• Always use white rum for mojitos. Avoid spiced rums, as these will take away from the freshness of the mint and lime.
• For the mint, spearmint is the most commonly used variety, and you will likely find it labelled as "mint" in grocery stores. For an authentic Cuban mojito, use mojito mint (Mentha x villosa), which has a more understated flavour than spearmint.
• Use freshly squeezed limes for the best flavour. Look for fruits with smooth skin, as this indicates a juicier lime.
• Classic mojito recipes call for granulated sugar. This ensures the drink isn't overly sweet, and the occasional undissolved sugar granule adds a signature texture. If you prefer, you can use superfine/caster sugar or simple syrup, which blends more smoothly into the drink.
• Top off your mojitos with club soda or sparkling water to lighten the drink and balance the other ingredients.

Equipment

• You will need a muddler to crush the fresh mint, lime, and sugar to release their flavours. If you don't have a muddler, you can use the end of a wooden spoon.
• Use a sturdy, thick-bottomed glass to mix the drink. Avoid using delicate glassware, as you need to muddle the ingredients in the glass.

Preparation

• When muddling the mint, don't overdo it. Slightly bruise the leaves to help release their fragrant oils, but don't crush them into tiny pieces. This will make your mojito taste better and give it a more enjoyable texture.
• If your mint looks sad and wilted, try resuscitating it by soaking it in a bowl of ice water for ten minutes.
• To make a pitcher of mojitos, multiply the ingredients by eight to serve a crowd. Muddle the mint at the bottom of a large pitcher, then add the remaining ingredients and stir.
• If you want to add a unique twist to your mojitos, try muddling in some fruit or cucumber chunks, or adding bitters.

Serving

• To garnish your mojitos, gently clap a sprig of mint between your palms to release its fragrant oils, then slide it into the glass with the top exposed.
• If you want to save time during your wedding, prepare some mint simple syrup in advance. Bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil, simmer for ten minutes, then remove from the heat. For every cup of water, add one bunch of mint and steep for twenty minutes. Strain the syrup and refrigerate until needed.
• If you want to offer a non-alcoholic option, simply leave out the rum and add a splash of vodka for guests who want an alcoholic drink.

Alternatives

If you're looking for alternatives to the classic mojito for your wedding, there are several options to consider. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Flavoured Mojitos

A popular twist on the traditional mojito is to add a dash of extra flavour. For example, you could try a strawberry or raspberry mojito, which will give the drink a lovely pink colour. Alternatively, you could muddle in some chunks of peeled cucumber for an extra refreshing kick. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even experiment with adding other fruits or herbs, such as mango, pineapple, kiwi, basil or lemon.

Frozen Mojitos

For a fun and unique take on the classic, why not try serving frozen mojitos? This is a great option for a summer wedding, as it will help keep your guests cool. Simply blend the traditional mojito ingredients with ice, and maybe even some extra flavours like raspberry or strawberry, for a refreshing slushy cocktail.

Non-Alcoholic Mojitos

If you want to offer a non-alcoholic version of the mojito, there are a few ways to do this. One option is to simply leave out the rum, and maybe add a little extra soda water or lime juice to compensate. Alternatively, you could replace the rum with a non-alcoholic spirit, or even a splash of lemonade or fruit juice. This is a great option if you're expecting guests who don't drink alcohol, or if you want to offer a more refreshing, daytime-appropriate cocktail.

Alternative Spirits

While white rum is the traditional spirit used in mojitos, you could experiment with using different types of rum or even other spirits. For example, you could try using a dark rum, or a spiced rum, which will give the cocktail a slightly different flavour profile. Alternatively, you could try using a completely different spirit, such as tequila, vodka or gin, to create a unique twist on the classic mojito.

Batch-Made Mojitos

If you're making mojitos for a large number of guests, you might want to consider making them in batches rather than individually. This will save time and ensure that each drink is consistent. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need, and mix them together in a large pitcher or jug. You can even get creative with the presentation by adding mint sprigs and lime wheels to each glass, or stuffing clear pitchers full of mint and lime for a decorative touch.

Garnishes

Mint Sprigs:

Add a sprig of fresh mint to each glass. Before placing it in the drink, gently clap the mint sprig between your palms. This action releases the fragrant mint oils, making the drink even more aromatic. The scent of mint will tantalize your guests' senses and enhance the flavour of the mojito.

Lime Wedges or Wheels:

A classic mojito garnish, lime wedges or wheels add a touch of citrusy freshness to the drink. Cut a lime into wedges or wheels, and place one in each glass. You can also squeeze a bit of lime juice into the drink to enhance the flavour. If you want to get creative, you can even add a lime twist by cutting a slit in the lime wedge and placing it on the glass rim.

Sugar Cane:

For a unique and authentic touch, garnish your mojitos with a small piece of sugar cane. This nods to the drink's Cuban origins, as sugar cane is indigenous to Cuba. It also adds a touch of sweetness to the cocktail.

Fruit:

Get creative with fruits like strawberries, raspberries, mango, pineapple, or even kiwi. Muddle a few slices of ripe fruit with the mint to infuse the drink with a fruity flavour. You can also use fruits as a garnish, such as a strawberry or raspberry on the glass rim or a slice of peach or pineapple floating in the drink.

Cucumber:

For a refreshing twist, muddle a few chunks of peeled cucumber with the mint. This unexpected ingredient will surprise your guests and keep them guessing. It adds a subtle, cooling flavour to the mojito.

Garnish Presentation:

When presenting your garnishes, consider placing them in a way that adds to the visual appeal. For individual drinks, carefully place the garnishes in or on the glass to create a stylish presentation. If you're serving mojitos in pitchers, stuff the pitchers full of mint and lime to create a stunning display. This way, your garnishes become a part of the decor, adding to the overall ambiance of your wedding.

Remember, the key to a great garnish is to be creative and have fun with it! These ideas will enhance the flavour and presentation of your wedding mojitos, making them a memorable part of your special day.

History

The mojito is a classic highball drink that originated in Cuba. However, the full origins of this refreshing cocktail have been lost in history. The story of its invention is often disputed, with some sources claiming that it was created by African slaves working in the Cuban sugar cane fields, and others attributing it to Sir Francis Drake, an English pirate and explorer, in the 16th century.

According to the first origin story, the name "Mojito" stems from the word "Mojo", a sour citrus sauce made by enslaved people from Africa in Cuba. The drink may also have taken its name from the Spanish word "mojado", meaning "wet". The ingredients used in the mojito, such as sugarcane spirit, lime, cane juice, and mint, were all available in Cuba.

The second origin story claims that during Drake's Great Expedition to the New World, an epidemic of scurvy and colic broke out aboard his ship. A landing party went ashore in Cuba and returned with a local mixture of sugarcane spirit, lime, cane juice, and mint, which effectively cured the crew's illnesses. This drink was named "El Draque" in Drake's honour. However, it's unlikely that Drake obtained all the ingredients for this drink (aguardiente, lime, and sugar) during his expedition, as the British had no sugar production or trade at that time.

Regardless of its exact origins, the mojito became popular in Cuba and was enjoyed by famous writers like Ernest Hemingway, who frequented La Bodeguita del medio, a renowned bar in Havana. During the American Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s, many US citizens travelled to Cuba, making Havana a paradise for wealthy Americans and further increasing the popularity of the mojito. The creation of the Bacardi company in the mid-1800s also contributed to the drink's spread and growth in popularity. Today, the mojito is a well-loved cocktail worldwide, known for its refreshing blend of rum, lime, sugar, mint, and club soda.

Frequently asked questions