Non-Alcoholic Mojito

A Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Mocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/21/22
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Diana Andrews Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Virgin Mojito Virgin Mojito

The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 cocktail
Yield: 1 drink

Cool and refreshing, the mojito is a favorite summer cocktail. While it typically includes a shot of rum, the mojito mocktail proves that alcohol is not necessary. This mocktail offers the same mint-lime flavor, it's just as easy to mix up, and everyone can enjoy its fresh taste. The family-friendly beverage is a great addition to showers and parties, and a fantastic way to cool down on a hot summer day in the backyard.

For this nonalcoholic mojito recipe, lime wedges are muddled with honey syrup and mint. The glass is filled with ice and topped with the sparkling beverage of your choice. It's very simple and you won't miss the liquor.

Just like the original mojito, use the recipe as inspiration to give this drink a personal twist: Switch out the sweetener, add other fruits or herbs, or pour a flavored soda or sparkling water. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination, so have fun with it.

"This drink was a very delicious and refreshing virgin cocktail. It was also very pretty. To tell you the truth, I didn’t miss the rum at all, and the great part is that I can drink this throughout the day at my next backyard bash and not worry about driving or any next-day repercussions!" —Diana Andrews

Virgin Mojito Tester Image Virgin Mojito Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 lime

  • 1 ounce honey syrup, more to taste

  • 10 to 15 mint leaves

  • 4 to 6 ounces sparkling water, or club soda

  • 1 mint sprig, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Virgin Mojito Ingredients for a Virgin Mojito

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  2. Cut the lime into wedges (about 4 or 5), reserving one for garnish. Add the remaining wedges along with the honey syrup to a tumbler. Muddle well to release all of the lime juice.

    Muddling Limes for a Virgin Mojito Muddling Limes for a Virgin Mojito

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  3. Add the mint, tearing each leaf into smaller pieces, and muddle gently to release the herb's essence.

    Muddling Mint for a Virgin Mojito Muddling Mint for a Virgin Mojito

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  4. Fill the glass with ice then sparkling water or soda. Add more honey syrup, if desired. Stir well to incorporate the lime and mint into the ice.

    Mixing a Fresh Virgin Mojito Mixing a Fresh Virgin Mojito

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  5. Garnish with the reserved lime wedge and a sprig of mint. Serve and enjoy.

    Virgin Mojito Virgin Mojito

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Tips

  • To make honey syrup, mix 2 or 3 parts of honey with 1 part of water, stirring until it's an even consistency. Thinning it out helps the honey mix better into cold drinks.
  • If you do not have a muddler, the back of a large wooden spoon can work. You can also use a rolling pin or similar kitchen utensil with a flat end. Alternatively, squeeze the juice from the lime wedges into the glass, add the mint and syrup and stir very well after adding ice.
  • Mint beginning to wilt? Preserve the herb's fresh taste by making a mint simple syrup. Use it as a full or partial substitute for the honey syrup.

Recipe Variations

  • Switch to simple syrup or use about 2 teaspoons of sugar instead of honey syrup. Raw and coconut sugars, as well as artificial sweeteners, work well, too.
  • Use flavored sparkling water or soda to give the drink a bubbly lift. Citrus is a great choice, though nearly any bright fruit or combination of fruits can be fun. Since options like ginger ale and lemon-lime soda can be quite sweet, you might want to adjust the syrup.
  • Add more fruits that pair well with mint. Muddle in fresh raspberries, pomegranate arils, or slices of cucumber, lemon, melon, peach, or pineapple. Or, switch to a sparkling apple cider or grape juice. A splash of pomegranate or pineapple juice is nice as well.
  • Build on the herbal taste by adding lavender, lemon verbena, rosemary, or sage to the muddle.
  • Incorporate a little spice with a ginger simple syrup.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
79 Calories
0g Fat
22g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 79
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 20mg 99%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 79mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)