Refreshing Strawberry Basil Mojito Pitcher
A bright and cooling summer drink combining muddled fresh strawberries and basil with lime juice, white rum, and sparkling water. Perfect for parties and casual get-togethers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves (about 20 leaves)
- 4 medium fresh limes, juiced
- 1 cup (240 ml) white rum
- 1/3 cup (65 grams) raw sugar or turbinado sugar (can substitute with simple syrup)
- 2 cups (480 ml) chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes as needed
- Optional garnishes: extra basil sprigs, sliced strawberries, lime wheels
Instructions
- Rinse and hull the strawberries, then quarter them. Pluck about 20 fresh basil leaves, wash and gently dry them. (5 minutes)
- In a large pitcher, add the strawberries, basil leaves, and raw sugar. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, gently press down to release juices and aromas without shredding the basil. (3-4 minutes)
- Juice 4 fresh limes and pour the juice into the pitcher. Stir gently to combine with the muddled mix. (3 minutes)
- Add 1 cup (240 ml) of white rum to the pitcher. Stir to blend all the flavors. (2 minutes)
- Fill the pitcher halfway with ice cubes, then top off with 2 cups (480 ml) of chilled sparkling water. Stir gently but thoroughly to mix without flattening the fizz. (2 minutes)
- Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness by adding more sugar/simple syrup or lime juice/sparkling water as needed. (2 minutes)
- Garnish with extra basil sprigs, lime wheels, or sliced strawberries. Serve immediately in tall glasses with more ice. (1-2 minutes)
Notes
Do not over-muddle basil to avoid bitterness; press gently to bruise leaves. Use raw sugar for depth or dissolve white sugar in warm water before adding. Let the pitcher sit 5-10 minutes before serving for flavors to meld but not too long to prevent basil bitterness. For non-alcoholic version, replace rum with sparkling water or white grape juice. Use frozen strawberries thawed slightly if fresh are unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces (240 ml)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 13
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: strawberry mojito, basil mojito, summer drink, pitcher cocktail, refreshing cocktail, easy mojito recipe, party drink