Cherry Mojito

With just the right amount of sweetness, this refreshing and fruity Cherry Mojito is the perfect cocktail for any special gathering. The best way to enjoy an icy glass full of cherries and mint.

Mojitos are the perfect celebratory summer drink. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, an accomplishment, or just feeling happy, mojitos are the way to go. Even if you’re not celebrating an event, mojitos will make you feel like there’s something to be happy about. For this recipe, I bring you a delicious cherry mojito. It’s mildly sweet, bubbly, and absolutely refreshing. 

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with cherries. So much so, that I made enough of this Cherry Simple Syrup to have around for my lemonades and mojitos. 

Check out my Raspberry Simple Syrup and Raspberry Lemon Wine Spritzer too! 

What is a Mojito?

A mojito is a traditional Cuban highball that consists of white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint. Historians have contended that the mojito was crucial to the survival of the thousands of Africans enslaved in Cuba during the 19th century when it was still a Spanish slave colony. Africans drank what was known as guarapo, which is sugar cane juice, to gain energy, which they learned about from the indigenous peoples of Cuba at the time. 

Throughout the 16th century to the 19th, Cuba was a haven for pirates and one of them, Richard Drake, created a tonic from guarapo to stop the spread of a disease known as scurvy. He called it aguardiente de caña, translated as sugarcane firewater, and it was infused with lime and peppermint leaves. Throughout the years, the drink evolved, and by 1862, when Bacardi rum was created, people started to substitute the guarapo ingredient with rum. 

There are, in fact, many theories behind the name as well as its origin. I recommend you read more about it! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This cherry mojito recipe is the perfect drink to add to your list of favorite summer or celebratory drinks. Between the cherries, lime juice, and mint, this drink is not only flavorful, it’s refreshing too.

Ingredients

• Mint Leaves – a required ingredient to make mojitos! It adds freshness and a great aroma to this cocktail. 
• Cherries – adds a delicious, sweet fruity flavor.
• Limes – you can opt for fresh lime juice too.
• Cherry Simple Syrup – I make my own cherry syrup! It’s so simple and you can use it to flavor your favorite drinks. 
• White Rum – any quality brand of your choice is fine. 
• Prosecco – I substitute the seltzer water for Prosecco to enhance the flavor and it’s so good! 
• Ice Cubes – You know, to make it cold. 

Step-by-Steps Instructions

Muddle the ingredients. Grab a glass cup and add cherries and lime wedges. Muddle, or press with a wooden spoon about 4-5 times to release the flavor. If using lime juice, continue this process and focus on muddling the cherries. 

Add the fresh mint leaves and cherry simple syrup, which you can buy pre-made or follow my recipe. Press the mint and syrup about 2-3 times. If you press too much, you may risk the mint leaves becoming bitter. 

Preparing the cocktail. Stir the cherries, lime, cherry simple syrup, and mint to combine. Then add rum, Prosecco, and ice. Top with additional mint leaves and cherries to garnish.

Serving Suggestions

However you decide to enjoy this recipe, it is sure to be a hit. I personally love to drink this cocktail during summer gatherings with my friends and family.

This could be the perfect drink to have with a charcuterie platter. That reminds me — have you seen my Dominican-inspired charcuterie board? 

You can also serve it for dinner with locrio de salami, or a delicious pulled pork sandwich.

Recipe Variations

• If you’re interested in making this recipe but are refraining from alcohol, you can simply omit the rum and switch the Prosecco with seltzer water. I promise it will taste just as good!
• For an added kick of flavor, try adding half a cup of flavored sparkling water or club soda instead of Prosecco. 

Storage Tips

The cherry mojito recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before it begins to lose its flavor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mojito made with rum or vodka?

Mojito is traditionally made with rum but you could also try making it with gin or tequila if you wish!

Are mojitos minty?

Mojitos are traditionally infused with fresh mint leaves so it will taste minty. 

What does it mean to muddle mint?

When making a cocktail such as mojitos, you may have heard of the phrase, “muddling mint.” If you haven’t heard it, you’ve definitely seen it. Muddling mint means to gently press the herb at the bottom of a glass cup with the aim of releasing the flavors. With mint, it is important to only muddle 2-3 times to avoid the herb from getting bitter. It is also recommended to not mash the mint to a pulp.

How do you muddle without a muddler?

If you don’t have a muddler, that is just fine. You can opt for a wooden spoon, which also helps to prevent artificial flavors from being added to your drink. Another option, which is very common among Latino households, is a pílon, or mortar and pestle. Again, gently press the leaves until you get a whiff of the mint. 

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Cranberry Mojito
• Raspberry Lemon Wine Spritzer
• Mango Mojito
• Guava Mojito
• Spicy Mango Michelada
• Pomegranate Holiday Sangria
• Peach Raspberry Spritzer
• Grapefruit Margarita