Coconut Mojito

This Coconut Mojito recipe is a creamy, cool drink that’s even tastier than the classic! Coconut infuses an irresistible tropical essence.

Want a mojito that’s impossibly even better than the classic? Try this Coconut Mojito recipe! Coconut infuses a tropical sweetness and creamy body into this cocktail that’s altogether irresistible. Cream of coconut and coconut rum come together to make magic, forming a delightful frothy topping that adds a little foam to each sip. Serve it as a signature drink a party or like we did: for laid back summer sipping on the patio!

What’s in a coconut mojito?

The coconut mojito is a tropical spin on the Mojito, a classic cocktail invented in Havana, Cuba. Some think origins of the drink stem back hundreds of years. The modern version took off in America in the 1930’s when Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize it.

The coconut spin on this drink adds two different coconut products to the drink. Cream of coconut replaces the simple syrup to add sweetness and creaminess, and coconut rum adds major coconut flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh mint
• Lime juice
• Cream of coconut (not coconut cream; see below!)
• White rum
• Coconut rum
• Soda water

Why to look for cream of coconut

The most important thing about making a Coconut Mojito? Make sure to find cream of coconut! It’s easy to confuse with coconut cream, which is a different product altogether. Read more at Cream of Coconut vs Coconut Cream, or review these differences:

• Cream of coconut is a sweetened syrup used for cocktails, often sold in handy squeeze bottles to make it easy to add to drinks. Cream of coconut is easy to find online or at your local liquor store. A popular brand is Coco Real.
• Coconut cream is unsweetened and usually sold in cans. It’s thick with a strong coconut flavor. You don’t want this for cocktails, because it doesn’t add the required sweetness to the drink.

More cocktails with cream of coconut? Try popular coconut cocktails like the Piña Colada, Painkiller, Chi Chi, Coconut Martini, Coconut Margarita, or Bushwacker!

More about coconut rum

In this Coconut Mojito recipe, you’ll use a mix of white rum and coconut rum. Why do you need the coconut rum? It infuses an intense coconut flavor. You could skip it and just use the cream of coconut if you’re in a bind, but we recommend using it. Here’s what to know about coconut rum:

• Most coconut rum is considered a coconut-flavored liqueur. It has lots of added sugar and a low alcohol level: Malibu Coconut Rum is only 21% ABV. In contrast, rum has no sugar and a 40% ABV. So, it’s more of a liqueur (here are the technical definitions).
• Malibu Coconut Rum is the most popular brand of coconut rum. It was launched in 1982 as a way for bartenders to simplify making the Piña Colada. You can find other types of coconut rum, like Bacardi, Capitan Morgan, and so forth.

Muddle the mint, then shake

Once you’ve got your coconut products, the only other cocktail technique in this Coconut Mojito is muddling the mint. Muddling is gently mashing herbs or fruits to release their juices. Here’s how to make this drink:

• Use a cocktail muddler. It’s the right tool for the job! Here’s a great cocktail muddler, or you can use an unfinished wooden spoon.
• Muddle the mint first. Gently mash the herb to get out all the oils. You can do this right in the cocktail shaker.
• Add the drink ingredients, ice and shake! Then strain out the drink. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a glass jar with a cover (poke holes in the lid to strain it out).

More mojito variations

Love a good mojito? We think drink is one of the all time greats (really). There are so many ways to play with the mint and rum formula. Here are our top types of Mojitos:

• Try a tropical Pineapple Mojito or Mango Mojito
• Go berry forward with a Strawberry Mojito, Blackberry Mojito, Blueberry Mojito or Raspberry Mojito
• Grab a summery Frozen Mojito, Watermelon Mojito or Peach Mojito
• Opt for citrus with a Limoncello Mojito
• Try the mocktail version with a Virgin Mojito Mocktail
• Mix up the alcohol with a Vodka Mojito or Tequila Mojito

01

Pineapple Mojito

02

Fresh Strawberry Mojito

03

Watermelon Mojito

04

Mojito Pitcher Recipe

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