In the vast land of rum cocktails, the Mojito is an elite player. This classic cocktail, born in Cuba, is both a cinch to make and extremely rewarding to drink. Made of rum, lime, mint, sugar, and soda water, the beverage is basically the liquid definition of refreshing.
While often pegged as a summer drink, the Mojito is really accessible year-round. In fact, like a good tiki drink, the cocktail can be even more desirable during the colder months as it can deposit you somewhere sun-kissed and tropical. Yet, because the drink is so dependent on its spirit base, it can only be as good as the rum that goes into it.
Typically, you'll make a Mojito with a lighter or white rum. Most of our selections below are of that style. Yet, we also understand the power of an aged rum, even if only a few years, and how it can change the drink for the better. The darker takes can add a little more heft and complexity to the drink, ideal on a cooler evening or if you prefer those barrel-aged dark fruit and spice notes.
We've assembled a list of the most Mojito-friendly rums available. Use fresh ingredients (especially lime) while you're at it and if you're using simple syrup, be certain it hasn't turned (it expires, you know). Other than that, find a good resting place and relax as you sip on this sunny drink.
Here are the best rums for Mojitos, in no particular order.
Bayou White Rum
Bayou White Rum is made from a blend of local, unrefined sugar cane and molasses by Bayou Rum Distillery of Louisiana. The tropical notes that underpin the sweet vanilla and butterscotch characteristics make it an easy-to-drink spirit, both on its own and as a component to a variety of cocktails.
Banks 5 Island Rum
The number in the name of this rum does not come from the age. Rather, it refers to the fact that the rum is a blend of rums from five different islands (technically, it is a blend of 21 rums from six different distilleries on those five islands). The various islands all contribute different flavor components to Banks 5 Island Rum, ranging from Trinidad’s blackstrap molasses flavors to aromatics from Jamaica’s pot stills to spice from Java and more.
Mount Gay Silver Rum
The only silver rum that Mount Gay produces, this one is mellow and soft, with soft banana and sugar cane syrup flavors. It is fresh and somewhat sweet, with hints of mint and citrus toward the end of the palate and into the finish. The mint notes are heightened when used in a Mojito, bringing the drink to a whole new level.
Flor de Caña 4
Aged for four years, Flor de Caña 4 is clear as water and light-bodied, making it perfect for light mixed drinks, even ones as simple as rum and tonic. The coconut, vanilla, and light barrel notes are enough to keep up with a bit stronger mixers as well, so grab a Flor de Caña 4 and enjoy the toasty sugar cane finish.
Caña Brava Rum
A Panamanian rum made by “Don Pancho,” a master distiller with 45 years of experience in rum distillation, Caña Brava is a drier rum that has floral notes and honey on the nose, and a silky palate rich in dark chocolate, cacao butter, vanilla, and sugar cane that's finished with a long, somewhat fruity back end.
Bacardí Superior
A standard on bar shelves across the country, a Mojito rum list wouldn’t be complete without Bacardí. The brand is almost synonymous with rum, and its cheap price tag doesn’t take away from its distinct flavor. Its vanilla, cooked sugar, and extremely light oak can balance a cocktail without getting lost, but it can also let the mixer shine as if it’s meant to take a back seat. It's quite popular in a Daiquiri as well.
Plantation 3 Stars
A blend of rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad, Plantation 3 Stars Rum utilizes the different characteristics from each island (and different aged rums, ranging from un-aged Barbados rum to 10-year-old Jamaican rum) to create a balanced and nuanced white rum. You’ll get brown sugar, vanilla, and honey on the nose and dark chocolate and root beer on the palate. The finish is grassy and herbal, almost like a rhum agricole.
Cruzan Aged Light Rum
Made using a blend of rums aged between one and four years, Cruzan Aged Light Rum is filtered after aging in American oak barrels to give the rum its straw color. Overall, the rum is dry with rich vanilla characteristics that lead to coconut and pineapple notes (reminiscent of a good Piña Colada). The palate is smooth with a nice, clean finish.
Goslings Gold Rum
A golden rum from the brand known for inventing the Dark and Stormy, Gold Seal is somewhat of a departure from the other rums on the list. Gold Seal is made from a blend of pot still and continuous still rums and is aged for around five years, giving it notes of toasted oak and tropical fruits on the nose, a mellow and fruity palate, and a peppery, dry finish.
Rum deserves more of your time and attention (in fact, you're probably drinking it wrong). With the above at your side, your Mojito game will rise to new heights.
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