:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/coconut-mojito-FT-RECIPE0621-5ca5ea7f4dec4ba39b7847882c1dfbd3.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "9 Cocktails to Use Up Your Mint Before it Goes Bad")
No herb is the star of the bar quite like mint. Leafy sprigs of fragrant mint get tucked beside pebble ice in Julep cups, muddled in Collins glasses, and balanced onto the rims of coupes.
There are a host of reasons for mint’s frequent appearances in classic cocktails, but its versatility is what sets it apart. Mint’s bright and earthy notes pair well with a range of spirits from rum in a Mojito to sherry wine in a Mint Cobbler to vodka in a Moscow Mule.
It’s also relatively easy to control how much intensity mint adds to your drink. For example, in our recipe for Mint Lemonade, mint sprigs are blended with fresh lemon juice for a hefty punch of fresh herbaceous flavor, whereas in a Winter Mojito, mint plays more a supporting role alongside rosemary and sage.
To make the most of mint’s abundance (especially in the summertime), use it liberally and reach for it often. Here are nine delicious mint drink recipes to spark herby inspiration.
Mojito
The Mojito is the quintessential mint cocktail. It’s a classic sweet-and-tart highball that consists of white rum, lime juice, sugar, club soda, and muddled fresh mint.
While the Mojito is often associated with writer Ernest Hemingway, who famously enjoyed the cocktail in Cuba, indigenous South Americans have consumed the lime, mint, sugar, and sugarcane spirit combination for medicinal and recreational purposes for hundreds of years. The drink transformed into the bubbly highball we know today soon after Prohibition hit the U.S. and Havana became a popular destination.
Mint Lemonade
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
This Mint Lemonade comes together in just a few minutes and can easily be spiked with the spirit of your choice, working quite well with tequila or rum.
This recipe calls for blending mint with sugar, lemon juice, and some water to break down the mint leaves so they release their pungent, flavorful oils. A quick pass through a fine mesh sieve yields clear, delightfully minty lemonade.
Coconut Mojitos
Homemade coconut-mint syrup lends cool, quenching freshness to this lime-kissed, effervescent Mojito.
Blanching and shocking the mint leaves before infusing them into the syrup preserves their bright color. Use leftover syrup for a whole batch of cocktails and nonalocholic drinks, stir some into freshly squeezed lemonade, or drizzle it over sliced fresh fruit for a refreshing summer treat.
Mint Julep
The celebratory cocktail has been served since the late 1930s at the Kentucky Derby, the legendary horse race held annually at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
Though there are a few regional variations, to make a Mint Julep mint leaves are muddled to express their fragrant essential oils and simple syrup and bourbon are added. Finally, the cup is filled with chipped ice and garnished with a sprig of mint.
Frozen Mojito
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
It’s hard to imagine anything more thirst-quenching than a classic Mojito, but this frozen riff on the classic is just that.
Unlike a traditional Mojito which is built in a highball glass, this version comes together quickly in a blender and is made to serve a crowd. As the mint leaves break down in the blender they give the cocktail a vibrant green hue and an intense minty flavor.
Moscow Mule
Just the sight of a Moscow Mule in an icy-cold copper mug will make you crave one.
Moscow Mules are made with fresh lime juice, vodka, and piquant ginger beer, and are traditionally topped with fresh mint for a pop of brightness. While the copper mugs give the drink some added visual glamor, they also create a tactile cooling sensation in the hands when sipping, creating a drink that channels chill vibes through multiple senses.
Mint Cobbler
The Cobbler was a fashionable drink in the 19th century, consisting of just sherry, crushed fruit, sugar, and lots of ice.
We can hardly think of a more refreshing drink. This Mint Cobbler with caramel-scented Amontillado sherry is great for afternoon sipping or for a pre-dinner aperitif, since having two won’t leave you fuzzy headed.
Blackberry-Mint Julep
The addition of blackberries to a Mint Julep brings a welcome fruity flavor to this classic warm-weather cocktail.
Sweet and tart blackberries play off the caramel notes in the bourbon and add brightness and refreshing acidity. Looking for a seasonal swap? Try red raspberries or even pitted cherries.
Winter Mojito
Anh Ngo’s Winter Mojito (playfully named Ho-Ho-Jito on the cocktail menu at Kata Robata in Houston) is a beloved riff on the classic Mojito.
Sage and rosemary infuse the simple syrup, adding savory flavor to the sweet, fresh drink, and dark spiced rum (instead of a classic mojito’s white rum) brings richer flavor. Garnishes of rosemary, sage, and mint provide the final touches that transform a summery mojito into a cozy, cold-weather refreshment.
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