Easy Pineapple Mojito

Why We Love This Recipe

• Twist on a classic: The traditional mojito, which originated in Havana, Cuba, contains rum, lime, mint, sugar, and typically club soda. Our version keeps that same tried and true base, plus the addition of pineapple juice for extra tropical flair, and sparkling wine in place of club soda for an extra boozy drink.
• Quick and easy: You only need 6 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make one of these easy pineapple mojitos.
• Sweet, tart and refreshing: The combination of sweet pineapple juice, tart lime juice and refreshing mint makes for a perfectly balanced cocktail!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make these easy pineapple mojitos:

Ingredient Notes

• Rum: You can technically use either white or dark rum in this pineapple mojito. We use white rum mostly to keep the color nice and vibrant, and it's also more traditional. It's also a bit milder in flavor, whereas dark rum tends to have more spice and depth of flavor.
• Pineapple juice: We use 100% pineapple juice (not from concentrate) in this recipe. You should be able to find it at most grocery stores, often in the juice/soda aisle. In a pinch, you can also use pineapple juice from concentrate. If you want to use homemade pineapple juice, check out this tutorial.
• Sugar: We like using demerara sugar, which is golden brown in color and has large grains. The downside is that it takes a bit longer to dissolve, and it can be hard to find, so regular white sugar is perfectly fine!
• Lime: You can either slice a whole lime into wedges to add to your mojito for a more traditional presentation, or you can pre-measure the lime juice before adding. Either option will make for a great tasting pineapple mojito. (Note: if using lime wedges, be sure to remove as much juice as possible when muddling.)
• Club soda or sparkling wine: either option works well to add a bit of fizz to top off your mojito. You could even use sparkling water (I love using this pineapple Spindrift for extra pineapple flavor!).

Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Add the mint, sugar and lime juice/lime wedges to a cocktail shaker and muddle for about 15 seconds. If using whole lime wedges, make sure to squeeze as much juice out of the lime as possible. Let sit for a few minutes so the sugar can dissolve.

Note: be gentle when muddling the mint. If it's overworked, the mint will bruise and the flavor will start to turn bitter.

You can also use a wooden spoon if you don't have a muddler.

(2) Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice, then pour in pineapple juice and rum and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.

(3) Strain into a highball glass filled with ice, then top off with club soda or sparkling wine. Garnish with lime wedge and fresh mint (optional).

Variations

• Virgin pineapple mojito (no alcohol): To make this into a pineapple mojito mocktail, substitute the 2 ounces of rum with another ounce of pineapple juice, a half ounce of lime juice, and another half ounce of club soda. Alternatively, try an alcohol-free spirit, like this rum alternative from Ritual Zero Proof. We love it!
• Make it with pineapple infused rum: For extra pineapple flavor, make our pineapple infused rum + learn how to make more infused alcohol in this post!
• Coconut pineapple mojito: For an extra tropical drink, substitute the rum with coconut rum (like Malibu) and replace 1 ounce of pineapple juice with coconut water.
• Grilled pineapple mojito: Grilling pineapple before adding to this mojito adds a wonderful smoky flavor and really brings out the sweetness of the pineapple! To do so, grill a few slices of cored pineapple over medium heat until lightly charred (~5 minutes on each side). Cut the pineapple juice down to 2 ounces, and add in 2-3 tablespoons of finely chopped grilled pineapple to the cocktail shaker while you muddle the mint, sugar and lime juice.
• Pineapple mojito with vodka: If you're not a fan of rum, try swapping in vodka in this recipe (1:1 ratio).
• Make it in a pitcher: serving this for a cocktail/dinner party? Multiply the quantities of each ingredient to make desired amount and store in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Wait to add the sparkling wine/club soda until just before serving. Pro tip: you can also wait to strain out the mint until just before serving so it has a bit longer to infuse.

Expert Tips and FAQs

• What to do if you don't have a muddler: A muddler is essential to making a mojito in order to extract the flavor from the mint and dissolve the sugar. A wooden spoon is probably the best alternative. You can also use any kind of wooden dowel or even a traditional mortar and pestle.
• Pro tip: Chill your cocktail glasses in the freezer while you make your drink to keep it extra cool while sipping. (This is especially handy on a hot summer day!)

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