Fall Mojito

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Cocktail History

The Fall Mojito is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created in 2023 as an autumn-inspired version of the iconic Mojito. The recipe also calls for the classic’s mix of white rum, citrus, syrup, muddled mint, and fizzy soda water, but it swaps out the simple syrup for apple cinnamon and replaces lime with lemon for more balanced fall flavor.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Soda Water: This is a carbonated beverage made with water and dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which gives it a fizzy, neutral flavor.

White Rum: This is a type of rum made with fermented sugarcane juice or molasses and yeast, which are distilled and then typically left unaged or briefly aged and filtered to develop a light, spiced flavor.

Apple Cinnamon Syrup: This is a sweetener made with apple juice, cinnamon sticks, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a spiced fruit flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Mint: This is an herb made from the leaves of the mint plant, which are harvested and used for their cool, aromatic flavor.

Apple: This is a type of fruit grown on apple trees that has smooth red, green, or yellow skin and a mild, sweet to tart flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water
• 🔗 The Real McCoy 3 Year Old White Rum

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Muddler: This is a handheld bar tool with a thick handle and flat or textured end that’s used for crushing ingredients to release their flavors.

Apple Corer: This is a handheld kitchen tool with circular blades and a center coring ring that’s used for coring and slicing apples into uniform wedges.

Highball Glass: This is a tall, slim glass that’s used for serving mixed drinks made with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixers.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 OXO Steel Cocktail Muddler
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Apple Corer, Slicer, & Divider

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Light golden orange color with an ombré effect

• Aroma: Mint, apple, and cinnamon

• Taste: Delightful mix of light rum and fizzy soda water sweetened by apple, cinnamon, and zesty mint

• Finish: Crisp and effervescent with lingering hints of more apple

Kendall’s Take
“I have a soft spot for the crisp classic Mojito, so I appreciate when a seasonal variation doesn’t stray too far from its roots. This one, fittingly called the Fall Mojito, keeps the familiar backbone of the vintage recipe intact while weaving in apple and cinnamon for a subtle autumn touch. Swapping lemon for lime also gives it a slightly softer, rounder feel that works very well. It still drinks like a Mojito—just dressed for October.”

Recipe