Bitter Mojito
White rum, lime, sugar and mint with a measure of Campari, topped with soda. The Mojito for an aperitivo drinker — the bitter orange turning Cuba's highball into something drier and redder.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Put the mint leaves and simple syrup in a collins glass and press gently.
Add the rum, Campari and lime juice, and fill the glass with crushed or cracked ice.
Top with chilled soda water.
Stir once from the bottom and garnish with a slapped mint sprig.
A thoughtful finish
- Three-quarters of an ounce of Campari; an ounce makes it bitter-led.
- Press the mint, do not shred it.
- Aperol in place of Campari for a sweeter, softer drink.
Common mistakes
- Too much Campari.
- Skipping the sugar; the Campari needs it.
- Bottled lime.
A few good questions.
What does a Bitter Mojito taste like?
A Mojito with bitter orange — drier, pinker and more grown-up.
Campari or Aperol?
Campari for bitterness; Aperol for a gentler, more orange drink.
How strong is it?
About 11% to 12% — a Mojito's strength.
Is it an aperitivo?
Yes; it is the Mojito built for the Italian pre-dinner hour.
Variations
- Mojito — Rum, lime, sugar, mint and soda.
- Americano — Campari, sweet vermouth and soda.
- Jungle Bird — Rum, Campari, pineapple and lime.
- Old Cuban — Rum, lime, mint, bitters and champagne.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · Italy / United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
Putting Campari in a Mojito is the kind of move an Italian bartender makes without thinking, and the Bitter Mojito turned up on aperitivo menus in Milan and on American Negroni Week lists around the same time in the 2010s: the Mojito’s rum, lime, sugar, mint and soda with half an ounce to an ounce of Campari, which turns the drink pink, cuts the sugar with bitterness and gives the mint something to argue with. Difford’s lists it, and bars call it a Campari Mojito or a Mojito Rosso too. The Campari must be measured; too much and it is a Campari soda with mint. Aperol makes a gentler, more orange version.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Bitter Mojito, 2014 (reference)
- Punch, Mojito Variations, 2017 (reference)
- Campari Group, recipe archive, current (producer)
Strength. About 1.3 US standard drinks at an estimated 12% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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