Blackberry Mojito

A great summer cocktail, the blackberry mojito is bright and juicy, and as pretty to look at as it is refreshing to drink.

Though its history is a bit unclear, the classic mojito was a traditional Cuban punch and was probably originally made from with only local ingredients—aguardente, sugar cane juice, lime, soda water, and fresh mint.

Popularized by Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s, today fruity variations of the mojito abound with the addition of berries, melon, or pineapple. A stirred rather than shaken drink, gently crushing the mint rather than vigorously muddling it releases its fresh flavor but prevents it from turning bitter or ending up in your teeth.

Ingredients for Blackberry Mojito

If you're familiar with the classic mojito, you'll know what you need—with the addition of blackberries. Here's what to add to your grocery list. (Full measurements are below.)

• Fresh blackberries: Local berries are preferred, of course, but all fresh blackberries are great. Frozen would even work in a pinch.
• Simple syrup: Make a batch of simple syrup, and you'll have a key ingredient ready to go for a variety of summer drinks.
• Fresh lime juice: Squeeze the limes yourself. The fresh flavor can't be beat.
• Fresh mint leaves: If you can find mojito mint, great. If not, spearmint is fine. It's a little stronger, but it's what most people make mojitos with.
• Ice cubes: You can do fancy ice cubes if you want, but any will work.
• White rum: Blanco, silver, or white rum—of your choice—is the right one for a mojito.
• Club soda: A little bit of carbonated water adds a nice bubbly to the drink without overpowering it. You can use sparkling water, too.
• Lime wheel: Take a few wheels off the limes for garnish.

How To Make a Blackberry Mojito

The full recipe is below, but here's a brief recap of how to make a blackberry mojito:

• Step 1. Muddle berries: In a cocktail glass, combine the berries, simple syrup, and lime juice. Use a muddler to gently press, not crush, the fruit. This helps to release the flavors without creating any bitter flavors from the fruit's tannins.
• Step 2. Add mint: Add the mint leaves and muddle. Do not shred the leaves. They should stay whole, but muddling releases the wonderful flavors.
• Step 3. Add ice: To the glass, add the ice, then rum. Stir to combine, and top with club soda.
• Step 4. Garnish: Add a lime wheel to the glass, and enjoy.

Tips for the Best Blackberry Mojito

A mojito is a wonderfully simple drink to make, which is why it's a favorite of many Southern happy hours and cocktail parties. But for the best blackberry mojito, keep these tips in mind:

• Use a muddler. These essential bar tools help to mash fruits and leaves for drinks like mojitos where you don't want to destroy the ingredients but you do want to release their wonderful flavors. If you don't have a muddler, you can use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Don't use a fork; it'll tear too much.
• Slap the mint. If you garnish with more mint, gently slap it against the back of your hand to release the flavor and oils.
• Frozen fruit is OK, too. Ideally you'll use fresh fruit, but frozen works. You can add other fruits to this blackberry mojito, too.

More Minty Summer Drinks

Have some wonderful mint left to use? Consider these drinks:

• Lemon-Mint Sparklers
• Mint Julep
• Mint Margaritas
• Strawberry-Mint Tea
• Watermelon-Mint Margaritas