But First… White or Dark Rum?

A mojito is generally made with white rum, which tends to get a bad rap (you probably think of it as your pre-drinking age mixer of choice), but what’s the difference between white and dark rum – and which makes a better mojito?

“Each to their own when it comes to the choice of rum, but drinks like the mojito and the Daiquiri are supposed to be light and refreshing in style, balancing well with the delicate flavours of mint, lime and sugar,” says Metinee Kongsrivilai, brand ambassador for Bacardi Rum. “For this reason, a light-style rum is ideal.”

Baos agrees the lighter white rum is best for mojito beginners, but suggests trying out darker rums too, as the type you use will have a huge impact on the flavour and finish of the cocktail. “The reason that classic mojitos have such a strong mint flavour is because of the subtlety of white rum, which is overpowered by the mojito’s other ingredients – sometimes you can barely taste the alcohol.

“Swapping from white rum to golden rum gives more depth, and finding rums with a characteristic taste can transform your drink. If you’re looking to mix things up, the first place to start experimenting is with the type of rum.”

Bartenders know this all too well: there’s the Cojito which incorporates coconut-flavoured rum, while a dirty mojito calls for gold rum instead of white rum and to use raw sugar or demerara instead of cane, while the South Side is even made with gin instead of rum.

So what does that mean for mojito making success?

“In recent years, with more and more people becoming interested in the art of mixology, drinkers are more inclined to experiment with their base spirits to achieve different flavours and I have definitely seen a rise in the number of dark rum mojitos,” says Baos. “If you’re yet to become a rum connoisseur and aren’t sure whether white or dark is for you, do a taste test with different kinds of rum to find out what you like.”