This Mango Mojito Is Your New Golden Hour Drink

There are countless reasons I come to life in the summer. Sunshine, pool days, lakeshore picnics, golden hour snack-dominated dinners—to this summer-lovin’ gal, the list is endless. But when the calendar strikes June, there’s one to-do I need to cross off my list asap. When they’re beautifully ripe and in season, this self-professed mango queen is stocking up on all the tropical fruits she can find. Mangoes are the perfect upgrade to all of my favorite summer drinks. And that is how this best-ever mango mojito recipe was born.

To be honest, I don’t drink much these days, so I’m always looking for recipes that are just as delicious with and without alcohol for my patio hangouts. This recipe is packed with flavor, easy enough to toss together for a large group, and can be modified for any preference. That’s right, this mango mojito recipe is summer sippin’ perfection.

What is a mojito?

The classic mojito is traditionally made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling soda water, and fresh mint. Easy, summery, and fresh. It’s no wonder Ernest Hemingway called it his fave. (Or did he?)

There are certainly different varieties of mojito depending on where and how you order your drink. A mojito blanco swaps in tequila in place of rum and a cojito introduces coconut flavor to the classic. The options abound and are entirely up to you!

My mango mojito version is fairly close to the original, with just a few tweaks to up the ante.

What You’ll Need for This Mango Mojito Recipe

Mangos. While you can use pre-packaged mango nectar or mango juice, I prefer using whole mangos that I’ve blended myself. This ensures no unnecessary additives and delivers plenty of extra mango flavor. You can use fresh or frozen and thawed mangos.

Limes. I love the acidity and tang that limes offer to help balance out the sweetness in the mango.

Fresh mint. Both as a garnish and to add a little extra flavor, mint is the traditional mojito ingredient that makes it special.

Ginger ale. I’m taking some liberties here and using a ginger ale or ginger beer instead of soda water. I love the warmth that ginger adds and the little bit of sweetness. This also means that you don’t need to include a simple syrup as most ginger ales add sugar to the mix.

White rum. Optional if you want to keep this as a mocktail, but use a good white rum for the ultimate mojito experience.

While the ingredient list for this cocktail is rather simple, there are a few things you can do to bump up the flavor and even add your own twists.

Slap your mint. Yes, literally. Maybe it sounds odd at first, but to get the mint flavor to come across, you need to activate and release that flavor. While you can work plenty of flavor into the drink by muddling the mint, it’ll leave behind green specks. Because I prefer the clean look of pure orange mango, I place the sprig of mint on one of my palms and smack it with the other. This will release some of the mint leaves’ oils and impart their signature fresh flavor in your drink.

Add a spicy kick. If you want to take things to the next level, make this a spicy mango mojito recipe by muddling in some jalapeño. Alternatively, you can add red chili pepper to some sugar to rim your glasses. It not only looks fancy but also gives the beverage a creeping heat to balance the mango’s sweetness.

Make a pitcher ahead of time. You can absolutely make this mojito recipe as a pitcher for large groups. And the best part? It can be made ahead of time as well. The flavors will all chill together and become all the more delicious. Plus, who wants to pour individual drinks when a picture will do perfectly? Just wait to add ice and top everything off with the ginger beer when ready to serve.

What to Serve With This Mango Mojito Recipe

These mango mojitos are a true summer crowd-pleaser and add a touch of sunshine to any golden-hour dinner. As such, they pair well with some of our favorite summer dinner recipes. Mix up a batch and enjoy these mango mojitos alongside carne asada tacos, a delicious summer salad, or even as your ultimate summer nightcap. Enjoy!

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