Getting creative with flavor combinations comes with the territory of crafting beverages at home, especially when you've been at it for over 10 years! Rum-based cocktails are some of my favorites. I love the tropical flavors that tend to come along with rum-based drinks. 🏝️ Mojitos are one of those drinks that are downright tropical, and this passion fruit mojito recipe is an even more tropical twist on the classic mojito.
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This recipe was inspired by my love of mojitos (check out my kiwi mojito recipe here) and the fact that I have a few very bountiful passion vines in my backyard. After whipping up a batch of this passion fruit simple syrup, I knew a passion fruit mojito was in my immediate future. 😛
ingredients
While fresh passion fruits may prove hard to find (and maybe a bit pricey), I promise it's worth it for an indulgence such as this cocktail! Here is the list of ingredients you'll need for these Passion Fruit Mojitos:
- Passion fruit syrup - while I recommend making your own passion fruit syrup, you can absolutely use store-bought!
- Passion fruit juice - as with the syrup, the flavor of your mojitos will be much more impactful if you use fresh juice. The juice comes from the fruit pulp inside each small oval. You may also use store-bought juice.
- White Rum - white rum (also called silver rum or clear rum) allows the flavors of the fruit and mint to be the center star in this cocktail.
- Demerara sugar cubes - demerara sugar is similar in taste to brown sugar. If you can't find it locally, you can order it online. Otherwise, you may use white sugar cubes in place.
- Mint Leaves - fresh mint is a non-negotiable part of a mojito!
- Limes - you'll need plenty of limes to both flavor and garnish the limes.
- Dehydrated Lime Wheels - you can make your own or purchase some ready-made for garnishing.
- Ice - whether you opt to use crushed ice or a large cube is up to you!
- Whole Passion Fruits - these will be used for the garnish of the cocktails, you'll need one fruit for every two passion fruit mojitos you make, as one half of a fruit will be the garnish.
See recipe card for quantities.
instructions
The basic formula for a mojito involves muddling together lime, sugar, and mint, then mixing in the remaining ingredients.
Step 1: Combine the limes, sugar, and mint in a cocktail mixing glass and muddle the ingredients together.
Step 2: Add the passion fruit syrup to the lime, sugar, and mint mix, and give the mixture another muddle.
Step 3: While the mix is blending, slowly drizzle in ¾ cup of olive oil, to emulsify the mixture. You will see it start to thicken and become matte and velvety in appearance.
Step 4: Store the dressing in a jar or other container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Hint: fill the glasses up ⅔ full, leaving room for topping with soda water. Many people use a soda pop, like Sprite or 7-Up when making mojitos, but the extra sugars throw off the balace achieved with the recipe. 😅
substitutions
- White sugar cubes - if you can't get your hands on demerara sugar cubes, you may use white sugar cubes instead. The sweetness factor is the same, but the flavor of the demerara sugar is a bit deeper and more caramelized.
variations
Try these variations, or comment below with your own!
- Infused rum - infuse your own rum with passion fruit for an even deeper passion fruit flavor in these mojitos! You can also experiment with other infused rums, like pineapple or mango.
- Mocktails - Omit the rum altogether to make what I call “faux-jitos” 🤣 top your beverage with extra soda water instead of adding rum!
equipment
While a cocktail mixing glass or shaker will improve your final product, it’s not necessary for making this passion fruit mojito. You can also opt to make these in a larger batch using a pitcher!
- Cocktail Mixing glass or Cocktail shaker - I love this mixing glass from Crate & Barrel, but I also have some linked here in my Amazon storefront! As for cocktail shakers, the ONLY one you will find in our house is this one by Elevated Craft. It’s insulated, so your hands won’t get frozen to the shaker’s body while mixing up your cocktail.
- Muddler - if you enjoy having cocktails at home, I’d definitely say it’s worth investing in and storing a muddler. This stainless steel muddler by OXO is sure to stand by your side during years of cocktail making. If you’re not ready to take the leap just yet, you can use the back end of a wooden spoon with a little creativity and force. 😜
- Cocktail glasses - Mojitos are traditionally served in highball glasses, but you can use whatever you have on hand. These bamboo-shaped highball glasses are particularly perfect for tropical beverages such as mojitos!
storage
You can prepare this cocktail in advance and top with soda water just before serving. I’d avoid storing it for longer than 24 hours, though. The rind from the whole limes will turn the drink bitter with time.
Top tip
Taking the time to really muddle the lime, mint, and sugar is the key to making a great mojito! Let the sugar macerate the limes and mint, so the acidic juices dissolve the sugar. Otherwise, you could end up with a grainy mojito! If you don’t want to risk it, opt for using just the passion fruit simple syrup, and increase the amount to 1.5 oz per drink.
q+a
Can I use passion fruit juice instead of passion fruit syrup?
Absolutely! You can use passion fruit juice and sub in simple syrup if you've got it, or just use sugar cubes in place of simple syrup.
You can garnish your passion fruit mojitos with a lime wedge and sprig of mint if you can't find whole passion fruits to garnish with. You can also use store-bought passion fruit juice in place of freshly made passion fruit simple syrup.
Sure you can! Check your local liquor and spirit store-- you might be able to find passion fruit syrup in stock nearby. Otherwise, you can order this Monin passion fruit syrup from Amazon. Of course, the flavor won't be as prominent as freshly made passion fruit simple syrup, but it'll do in a pinch!
recipe
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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🥣 recipe
Passion Fruit Mojito
Equipment
- 1 cocktail mixing glass
- 1 muddler
- 2 cocktail glasses
Ingredients
- 2 whole limes washed, dried, and sliced into quarters
- 20 leaves mint extra mint on sprig, for garnish
- 2 cubes sugar demerara sugar, preferred
- 4 oz white rum
- 2 oz passion fruit simple syrup see recipe here, or use store-bought
- 2 oz passion fruit juice fresh or store bought
- 1 bottle sparkling water or soda water to top beverages off
Instructions
- In a cocktial mixing glass, combine 2 limes, cut into wedges, with 2 demerara sugar cubes, and 20 mint leaves. Muddle well to mix.
- Pour in 2 ounces of passion fruit syrup, and give the mix another muddle to combine the ingredients.
- Add in 4 ounces of rum to the cocktail mixing glass, and stir the ingredients to combine with a cocktail spoon.
- Fill 2 highball glasses with ice (or more if you are doubling/tripling the recipe) and pour your mojito mixture until each glass is about ⅔ full.
- Top each glass with soda water, then garnish with a sprig of mint, a dehydrated lime wedge, and one half of a fresh passion fruit before serving.
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