This blackberry kiwi mojito recipe is a fruity riff on the classic Mojito. Made with fresh fruit, mint springs, and rum, this refreshing cocktail is the perfect summer drink.
The mojito is a classic cocktail known for its invigorating taste, characterized by a blend of fresh mint, lime, sugar, and soda or sparkling water.
This combination makes a crisp, tangy, and revitalizing cocktail that is perfect for summer, though I will drink one in any season. Summer drinks are great year-round!
The main ingredients of a traditional mojito—mint, lime wedges, sugar, and soda water—are readily available at your local grocery store, making it easy for people to recreate this cocktail at home.
This is the first Mojito spritzer recipe I have shared in a long time (meet my orange mojitos!), though I’ve shared many cocktail recipes on this website.
Mojitos are versatile cocktails that lend themselves well to various adaptations and flavor infusions.
The basic drink recipe lets you incorporate different fruits, herbs, or your own simple syrup, enabling a wide range of flavor combinations to suit personal preferences and seasonal produce.
Enter blackberries and kiwi.
Blackberry Kiwi Spritzer Recipe
Blackberries are the ying to kiwis’ yang.
Blackberries are known for their sweet and slightly tart flavor profile and offer a natural sweetness and a hint of tanginess. These berries have a juicy and somewhat seedy texture that bursts flavor when bitten.
On the other hand, with its tangy and slightly sweet taste, kiwi provides a different kind of acidity that balances well with the sweetness of the blackberries. Kiwi fruit has a smooth yet somewhat grainy texture due to its seeds, contrasting with the juiciness of blackberries.
And let’s not forget about the colors! The combination of kiwi with its bright green flesh and the vibrant, deep purple or black hue of blackberries creates beautiful summer cocktails.
Blackberry Kiwi Mojito Ingredients
Fresh Kiwi: Ripe kiwis bring a tropical and slightly tart flavor to the Mojito. Slicing them into coins allows for easy muddling, infusing the drink with its vibrant essence.
Granulated White Sugar: The sugar serves as a sweetener, balancing the tartness of the kiwis and blackberries. When heated, it dissolves in the water to create a simple syrup, ensuring even sweetness throughout the cocktail.
Water: When combined with the sugar, this creates a simple syrup. Simple syrup is a common cocktail ingredient, providing a sweet and liquid form that easily mixes into cold beverages, avoiding the issue of undissolved sugar granules.
Fresh Blackberries: Blackberries add juicy sweetness and a deep, rich color to the mojito. Muddling them releases their flavorful juices, infusing the cocktail with a delightful berry essence.
Fresh Mint Leaves: Mint is a quintessential ingredient in mojitos, contributing a refreshing and aromatic element. Muddling the mint leaves releases their essential oils, creating a fragrant backdrop for the cocktail.
Lime Wedges: Limes provide the essential citrusy kick, balancing the sweetness of the fruit and sugar. Quartering them makes it easier to extract the lime juice and muddle the citrus flavor into the drink.
White Rum: Rum is the traditional alcoholic base for mojitos, adding a robust and complex flavor. The quantity can be adjusted based on personal preference or omitted for a kiwi cocktail.
Club Soda or Sparkling Water: The effervescence of club soda or sparkling water adds a lively and crisp finish to the mojito. It also helps dilute the drink to the desired strength and enhances its refreshing quality.
Alternative Ingredient Suggestions
Granulated Sugar Alternatives:
- Honey: Use honey as a natural sweetener. It adds a distinct flavor and sweetness. Start with a smaller amount and adjust to taste.
- Maple Syrup: Another natural sweetener with a rich flavor. It can add a unique twist to your mojito.
- Agave Nectar: A liquid sweetener like agave syrup dissolves easily. It has a mild flavor and is an excellent alternative to white sugar.
White Rum Alternatives:
- Aged Rum: If you’re looking for a white rum alternative, consider using aged or dark rum. These types of rum have a more robust flavor.
- Coconut Rum: You can use coconut rum if tropical drinks are your favorite cocktails.
- White Tequila: If you prefer a different spirit, white tequila can be used as a substitute for white rum. It brings a different set of flavors to the mix.
Scroll down to see the full recipe below!
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How to Make a Blackberry Kiwi Mojito
Start by creating your kiwi simple syrup. Toss the peeled kiwi pieces into a small food processor and let it work its puree magic.
Now, transfer that vibrant kiwi puree into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add water and sugar, whisking until well combined. Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Off the heat, it goes! Pop it in the fridge to chill – once it’s cold, you can start mixing up your kiwi mojito.
Get your glasses ready (details on suggested glassware below.) Pour a generous ounce of that cool kiwi simple syrup into each glass.
Drop in blackberries, a handful of mint leaves, and a lime wedge into the mix. Give it a gentle muddle to let the flavors mingle, then top it off with ice cubes.
Then, pour white rum into each glass. Complete your cocktail by filling the glasses with bubbly club soda.
Crown it with fresh blackberries and kiwi slices, swirl, and voila—your refreshing elixir is ready to sip and savor!
Storing Leftover Kiwi Simple Syrup
You may have more kiwi simple syrup in the fridge, ready to spark up your next round of mojito magic.
It’ll keep for up to a week in an airtight container, but let’s be honest—it probably won’t last that long once you’ve tasted these beauties! Cheers!
Muddling Tips
- Use a Sturdy Cocktail Muddler: Ensure you have a sturdy wood or stainless steel muddler with a flat bottom to crush the ingredients effectively.
- Technique: Use a gentle yet firm muddling technique. Avoid exerting excessive force to prevent bitter flavors from the mint or a bitter taste from the lime peel.
- Check Consistency: Aim for a well-muddled mixture where the mint leaves are bruised, the lime wedge has released its juice, and the blackberries have released their flavors without being completely crushed.
- Use Immediately: Add other cocktail ingredients to complete your Blackberry Kiwi Mojito after muddling.
Note: The key is balance and moderation while muddling to extract the flavors without making the mixture too pulpy or bitter.
What cocktail glass do you recommend for Kiwi Mojitos?
The ideal glassware for a classic Mojito is a highball glass or Collins glass. A Highball glass is a narrow, tall glass, typically holding between 10 and 14 ounces (around 300 to 415 milliliters) of liquid.
When preparing and serving a Mojito, using a highball glass showcases the drink’s aesthetics, allows for proper layering of ingredients, and enhances the overall drinking experience.
Key features of a highball glass that make it perfect for a Mojito:
- tall and sleek design
- sufficient capacity
- space for muddling and mixing
- versatility
- temperature regulation
- easy handling
Alternative Options to Highball Glasses
While highball glasses are the traditional choice for serving Mojitos, other glassware options like a tumbler or a rocks glass can also be used, especially if you prefer a shorter, more expansive glass for your Mojito.
Ingredients
- 4-5 fresh green kiwi peeled and sliced into coins
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 limes quartered
- 6 ounces of rum
- Club soda or sparkling water
Instructions
- Add peeled kiwis to a food processor and puree.
- Pour pureed kiwis into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add water and sugar and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Place in the fridge to cool.
- Prepare glasses. Pour 1 ounce of kiwi simple syrup into each glass. Add 2-3 blackberries, mint leaves, and a quarter of a lime to the bottom of each glass. Gently muddle to release the flavors, then fill glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour 2 ounces of rum into each glass.
- Fill glasses with club soda and garnish with fresh blackberries and kiwi slices. Give it a stir and enjoy!
- Store any remaining kiwi simple syrup in the fridge for up to 1 week.