Pomegranate Basil Mojito

5 from 1 vote
This pomegranate basil mojito recipe is a take off of the traditional mint mojito. It looks beautiful and tastes great...either with or without rum.
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This pomegranate basil mojito recipe can be made with or without alcohol to create a refreshing twist on the traditional mojito.

I am totally in love with mojitos! In fact, I love them so much that I like to drink them even without alcohol, which is why I came up with my original virgin mojito recipe. However, sometimes I like to change things up a bit and that’s where these pomegranate basil Mojitos come into play. Whether you make them as a virgin cocktail or with rum, they’re a tasty twist on the original recipe.

pomegranate basil mojito

This pomegranate basil mojito is a twist on the traditional Cuban mojito recipe.

By using basil instead of mint, some pomegranate juice and maple syrup instead of sugar syrup, it’s a very refreshing drink that isn’t too sweet and tastes delicious…an excellent choice for a hot summer day or a Christmas holiday party.

Pomegranate basil virgin mojito

The other great thing about this recipe is that it is equally good with or without rum. Which makes it a great signature cocktail for a party. You can serve the virgin version for those who aren’t drinking alcohol and the rum version for those who are.

How To Put It Together

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The trick to great tasting mojitos is in the muddling.  Muddling is the process of gently crushing the herb leaves so they release more of their flavors. You don’t want to press so hard that the leaves break apart. Just enough for them to get bruised.

To do this, add the maple syrup and lime juice to the glass first and stir until they are combined. You can substitute simple syrup for the maple syrup if you prefer (although I like the extra flavor that the maple syrup adds).

Pomegranate basil mojito being muddled

Then add the basil leaves. Use a muddler* to gently push down on the leaves for about 10 seconds. If you don’t happen to have a muddler on hand, the back of a wooden spoon will also work.

Next mix in the pomegranate juice and rum (if you are using it).

Add the ice cubes, soda water and garnishes…and you’re done!

For garnishes, I use a couple of basil leaves plus a couple of raspberries in the summer or a few pomegranate seeds at Christmas.

pomegranate basil mojito with rum

Can You Make This In Big Batches?

Why, yes…yes, you can.

For parties, I mix up a big batch of muddled basil leaves, pomegranate juice, lime juice and maple syrup in advance. Just multiply the measurements below by the number of drinks you want to make in a batch.

Then to make the drinks after guests arrive, you just have to pour some of the mixture into a glass, add ice, rum (if desired) and soda water. That speeds up the drink making process and allows the basil flavor to infuse into the juices a bit more.

Pomegranate basil mojito with pomegranate seeds garnish

Other party drink recipes

Pomegranate Basil Mojito

5 from 1 vote
Servings: 1 cocktail
Prep 5 minutes
Total 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 5 whole fresh basil leaves
  • 2 Tablespoons of pomegranate juice
  • Juice of 1/2 lime or lemon
  • 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup
  • 1 ounce white rum (optional)
  • soda water
  • sprigs of basil
  • pomegranate seeds or raspberries for garnish

Pots and Utensils

  • Muddler or wooden spoon

Instructions
 

  • Tear up the basil leaves and place them in a tall glass.
  • Use a wooden spoon or “muddler” to gently crush the basil.  This releases the flavor from the leaves.
  • Add pomegranate juice, lime or lemon juice, maple syrup and rum (if you are using it).
  • Stir to blend in the maple syrup.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • Add soda.
  • Garnish with a sprig of basil and a few pomegranate seeds or raspberries
  • Serve it with a straw to prevent the leaves from ending up in your mouth.

Notes

This recipe is equally good with or without rum, so it makes a great signature party drink since you can satisfy everyone’s tastes.
If you don’t have a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon to crush the basil leaves.
You can substitute simple sugar syrup instead of the maple syrup if that’s what you have on hand, but I think the maple syrup adds some extra flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Pomegranate Basil Mojito
Serving Size
 
12 oz
Amount per Serving
Calories
218
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.3
g
0
%
Sodium
 
48.8
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
53.8
g
18
%
Sugar
 
44.4
g
49
%
Protein
 
1.4
g
3
%
Vitamin C
 
0.8
mg
1
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

courseDrinks
cuisineCuban
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Pomegranate Basil Mojito with a non-alcoholic version

This post was originally published on July 1, 2016 but was updated with new content on March 19, 2024.


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