This kiwi mojito recipe is made using REAL kiwi fruit AND an infused kiwi syrup, meaning you get a double dose of kiwi flavor. That means no artificial ingredients or shelf-stable syrups, giving you the freshest, most flavorful mojitos that are truly worthy of a tropical vacation (but you don’t even have to leave the house 😎)!

A kiwi mojito sits in the middle of a photo frame on a light brown stone countertop. Ingredients used to make the kiwi mojito are sitting in the background, along with another kiwi mojito.

Do your mojitos usually taste watered down, bland, or flat, flavor wise? 👀 This version fixes all that! Using The Flavor Factors Framework, I’ve crafted a *perfectly balanced* seasonal variation on a classic drink that’ll have everyone saying “WOW, you made this?!” You get big kiwi flavor balanced with the oomph from rum, and a citrusy pop of acid to blend everything together.

Rum-based cocktails are favorites of mine, because I love how easy it is to evoke vacation-worthy vibes using this tropical-island-inspired liquor.

And when you’ve been crafting homemade cocktails for over a decade, you tend to keep on top of drink trends, and while some things come and go (lookin’ at you, appletini…) other trends, like seasonal mojitos, have real staying power.

👀 the secret sauce…

✨ the flavor: this recipe is all about The Wow, Mom! Flavor Factor. It takes a classic tropical cocktail and amps up the wow-factor by muddling fresh kiwi with a kiwi syrup!

🎯 the method: Fresh mint, kiwi slices, limes, and kiwi syrup are muddled together for the flavor base. Ice and rum join the party, topped off by soda water!

🏆 the win: a seasonal update to a timeless cocktail makes you the star bartender of any gathering!

🛒 ingredients to make this kiwi mojito

A bottle of Bacardi silver rum, a glass of ice, a jar of kiwi syrup, fresh kiwi slices, dried lime wheels, whole limes, and a bunch of mint are arranged on a counter—perfect ingredients for crafting a refreshing kiwi mojito.

kiwi simple syrup – kiwi simple syrup is the secret ingredient in this cocktail that gives it an extra punch of kiwi flavor. Check out how to make your own kiwi simple syrup in my guide!
kiwis – fresh kiwi gives this cocktail color and flavor. The muddled kiwi makes for a show-stopping appearance when combined with the mint and lime in the glass!
limes – no mojito is complete without fresh lime! Use fresh lime wedges for the best flavor in this recipe. I like to opt for organic fruit, since the whole wedge, peel included, will be muddled in this cocktail.
mint – fresh mint leaves are a must for mojitos, so make sure to have a few big handfuls of it. You will also need more mint to garnish the cocktail when serving.
silver rum – light rum is also called silver rum or white rum, because it’s not aged or flavored at all. Silver rum works best in this fruity cocktail because unlike darker or aged rums, it allows the flavor of the kiwi, lime, and mint to really shine.
ice – mojitos are muddled in a cocktail glass and then ice is added, and topped with soda water. So YES, the ice is an important part of this recipe! You’ll want to make sure to have enough ice to completely fill your chosen glasses with.

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 step-by-step process for making kiwi mojitos

Two-step collage: On the left, juice is poured into a glass with lime and mint for a refreshing kiwi mojito; on the right, a hand adds kiwi pieces. A muddler and ingredients like kiwi, lime, and herbs are on the counter.

1 + 2: Add lime wedges, mint, and kiwi syrup to a cocktail glass. Add kiwis to the cocktail mixing glass.

Split image: Left—A hand muddles kiwi and mint in a glass for a fresh kiwi mojito. Right—Clear liquid is poured from a measuring cup into the same glass. Cocktail ingredients are visible in the background.

3 + 4: Muddle well, making sure to mix all ingredients well together. Add the silver rum to the glass, and give it a stir.

Side-by-side images of a tall glass with muddled lime and mint for a kiwi mojito; left shows the glass filled with ice, right shows liquid being poured in. Bottles and green herbs are blurred in the background.

5 + 6: Fill the glass with ice cubes, leaving a little room at the top for soda water. Stir your cocktail well to combine. Top with soda water of your choice.

A tall glass of refreshing kiwi mojito with ice, fresh mint, lime slices, and a striped straw, garnished with a kiwi wheel. Another kiwi mojito and a bowl of fruit are blurred in the background.

7: Stir the cocktail well to distribute the ingredients, then garnish with a slice of kiwi, sprig of mint, and a dehydrated lime wheel.

💡tips & tricks for getting it right

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

Since this recipe uses fresh limes, the flavor can vary depending on the acidity of your limes. Additionally, limes can impart a very bitter flavor if they marinate with the rest of the ingredients for too long.

sour – If your drink is too sour, add more kiwi simple syrup to balance the acidity of the limes.
bitter – Since this recipe calls for using the whole lime wedge, including the pith and peel, it’s best not to let the limes marinate in the rest of the ingredients very long before serving. If it’s too bitter, add in more simple syrup to balance it out. You can also use a homemade saline solution to help balance out any bitterness in your drinks!
sweet – if your drink is too sweet, you can add in a bit of fresh lime juice or another ounce of rum.

make it a mocktail:

To make this into a zero-proof kiwi nojito (also called a fauxjito), omit the rum and add more sparkling water! You can also use a zero-proof spirit like Lyre’s Cane Spirit or Ritual Rum!

This is a fun way to let everyone enjoy the fruity mint flavor of this kiwi mojito whether they choose to drink alcohol or not!

⚖️ scaling tips

This recipe is easily scaled up for parties or gatherings. You can measure out however many ounces of rum and kiwi simple syrup you will need into a pitcher.

Wait until you are serving the cocktails to muddle the kiwi, lime and mint. Then just before serving, top with soda water and ice.

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🍽️ how to serve your kiwi mojitos

get the garnish – Garnish this kiwi mojito with a kiwi slice, a dehydrated lime wheel, and a mint sprig. You can use a fresh lime wheel or lime slice if you don’t have any dehydrated lime wheels on hand, too.
spring or summer sip – serve it at a barbecue, pool party, or another summer gathering for a minty, fruity, and refreshing drink!
mojito bar – set up a DIY mojito bar for your guests alongside bottles of other tropical syrup flavors and fruits, then allow your guests to mix and match flavors of mojitos!
pitcher perfect – wanna make a large batch of kiwi mojitos? yPrepare the base mix of mint, limes, kiwi, and syrup in a pitcher, then muddle it all together. Add large cubes of ice and silver rum just before you’re ready to serve, then stir well to combine and chill the mix. Top each glass with soda water as you pour the individual drinks!

♻️ customize your kiwi cocktails

sugar – if you don’t have the time to prepare kiwi simple syrup, you can use a cube of sugar. Alternatively, you can use 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar or less refined sugar like demerara sugar or turbinado sugar.
club soda – you can substitute club soda if you don’t have seltzer water. Do not substitute sparkling mineral water or tonic water, as they both have additional flavors that will impact the final taste of this cocktail.
flavored soda water – you can use flavored soda water or sparkling water in place of unflavored soda water to add even more tropical flavor.
ginger – add in a few shaves of fresh ginger for a spicy, gingery twist on this mojito!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

highball glasses – taller highball style glass are perfect for mixing and muddling the ingredients inside the cocktail. As a bonus, the slender shape allows you to show it all off, too!
cocktail muddler – I love using my muddler by OXO because it’s got a great base for smashing ingredients together and is comfortable to hold in your hand (affiliate link). It’s also dishwasher safe (something you can’t say for traditional wooden muddlers). If you don’t have a muddler, you can use the back of a large wooden spoon.
bar spoon – a cocktail spoon is handy for giving the final cocktail a good stir to make sure the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
measuring glasses (or jigger) – I love using my OXO nesting measuring cups for making cocktails and tons of other recipes (affiliate link).

🫙 can you store kiwi mojitos?

This cocktail is best served and enjoyed immediately after preparing it. Since it has sparkling water and ice, it will lose some fizz and dilute if you let it sit around too long after preparing.

You can prepare the base of this cocktail in advance, but do not add the lime, ice, or soda water. If you are making this for a party, combine the mint, kiwi syrup, kiwi, and rum in advance, and you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.

Do not add the lime, because it can get bitter if left to marinate for too long. Instead, add the lime just before serving!

💬 q+a

Why is my mojito bitter?

Citrus can vary greatly in flavor, and limes tend to be more bitter than lemons. Make sure you choose fresh limes that are not overripe or spoiled. Don’t be afraid to juice a lime wedge and taste the juice before adding it to your cocktail. If it is extremely bitter or sour, chances are, it’s overripe. You can add more kiwi syrup to offset this if you have already added your limes and they are too sour or bitter.

Can I make this mojito non-alcoholic?

Yes! Simply skip adding in the rum, and add more soda water to make a non-alcoholic version of this kiwi-mojito. I like to call it a “faux-jito” when it doesn’t have alcohol!

Do I need to use kiwi simple syrup to make this cocktail?

If you don’t have the time to make your own simple syrup, you can muddle your kiwis with 1 teaspoon of sugar per drink. Generally, one sugar cube is also equal to one teaspoon of sugar! Make sure to mix your drink well so the sugar dissolves properly.

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