The cocktail notebook · Alcohol-free
Virgin Mojito
house recipe
Minty, lime-led, lightly sweet and sparkling. This is an original house drink written for teaching, not an established classic.
- Base
- No alcoholic base specified; verify final products
- Method
- Build
- Glass
- Highball
- Yield
- One drink
Recipe reference: Original house specification.
Virgin Mojito recipe
1 serving · Original house specificationMillilitres control this recipe. US fluid ounces are rounded to the nearest quarter ounce for convenience and are not a different recipe ratio. Dashes, spoons, leaves and other non-liquid measures are listed as written.
| Measure | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 20 ml≈ 0.75 US fl oz | fresh lime juice |
| 15 ml≈ 0.5 US fl oz | simple syrup, 1:1 by mass |
| 8 leaves | fresh mint |
| 120 ml≈ 4 US fl oz | chilled plain soda water |
Ice: Fresh cubed ice, fill glass. Garnish: Mint sprig and lime slice.
Learning bar service? Continue with the Virgin Mojito in module 8 of the free course →
How to make it
- Combine lime and syrup in the glass; add washed mint.
- Press mint lightly without tearing.
- Fill with ice, add soda and lift gently.
- Add the garnish and serve.
Why it works: A separate measured recipe compensates for rum’s removal while keeping a clear flavour identity.
Common mistakes, useful fixes
Leaf fragments
use gentler pressure.
Too sour
check syrup concentration and lime measure.
Wrong alcohol-free assurance
check every ingredient and shared equipment.
Serving the guest
What to tell the guest
It is fresh mint, lime, syrup and soda, with no rum.
Dietary and product checks
Check ingredients and cross-contact; plain soda and non-fermented ingredients are specified. No alcoholic bitters.
Variations
- A smaller syrup measure is a guest modification that should be recorded.
- Berry additions require a separate tested fruit recipe.
About this house drink
Origin: Original course adaptation of the Cuban Mojito family; no historical invention claim. (Original house recipe)
This is an original teaching adaptation, not a historically standardised cocktail. The name tells a guest that the mint-and-lime idea of a Mojito has been retained without rum. Removing a spirit changes volume, flavour and structure, so the recipe has its own measured soda and syrup quantities. Treat alcohol-free orders with the same care as alcoholic ones: clean tools, fresh herbs, a properly prepared glass and an honest ingredient description. The lesson is not to imitate alcohol at any cost, but to deliver a fresh, balanced drink that suits the guest’s request.
Virgin Mojito questions
How much syrup is used?
15 ml of 1:1 syrup.
Why is it a house recipe?
There is no single official alcohol-free Mojito formula being claimed.
From a recipe to a repeatable skill
Learn the method behind the order.
Virgin Mojito is a required study in Essential Cocktails & Bar Foundations, module 8: Alcohol-free service and shift practice. Build an intentional alcohol-free specification and check ingredients.
The course is free. An optional paid certificate tests knowledge in an online exam; it is not an observed practical assessment or an accredited bartending qualification.