Balsamic Strawberry Basil Mojito

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A unique sweet-tart twist on a classic mojito, this balsamic strawberry basil mojito is full of fresh berries and herbs with a tiny dash of balsamic vinegar for a rich summery sip!

This mojito recipe started with an excess of strawberries and basil leaves. 

Pro-Tip: Never send a man out to get groceries. I ask for strawberries and basil. He comes back with three cartons of strawberries and two giant clusters of basil because “I thought you might want alot.”

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But if your partner went out and bought you an excess of blackberries and raspberries instead, here’s a mixed berry mojito with fresh cardamom to try instead!

You could also go for this sweet white peach sangria if you overloaded on peaches. Or wine. (That’s never a problem here.)

Another great fruity summer cocktail? A refreshing Tropical Coconut Lychee Martini!

TL;DR

• Slice 3 small strawberries into tiny pieces.
• Toss them in a tumbler.
• Add in sugar, balsamic vinegar, lime juice, basil leaves, and a splash of club soda.
• Muddle well.
• Add in 2 oz. White Rum
• Top with club soda and ice.
• Drink.

My first few attempts at this recipe were quite pleasant…but I felt there was something missing. I debated adding cardamom, like I did for this exotic Spring Mixed Berry Mojito. But I finally settled on a dash of balsamic vinegar. And wow! What a delicious flavor!

How to Make a Balsamic Strawberry Basil Mojito

Mojitos are classically made with rum, lime juice, mint leaves, sugar, and club soda. Everything is muddled together in a glass to meld the flavors for a really refreshing cocktail. This new version follows that basic recipe…with a few major additions!

The rum, sugar, and club soda are all in their basic proportions. The difference comes in the flavor and the acid!

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The Flavor: Herbs and Berries

Mint leaves are a wonderful spring/summer herb. But so is basil!

Strawberries and basil are a natural pairing. Basil has a naturally pungent, sweet, anise-like smell. Which matches perfectly with sweet strawberries. (Possibly the only better basil pairing is tomato and mozzarella. But you can’t make a mojito with that. Well, you could…)

The Acid: Adding Balsamic Vinegar to a Mojito

With the sweet and earthy flavors taken care of in basil and strawberry, you need to add something tart to cut through the sugar.

The classic option is a whole squeezed lime.

But I wanted something with a richer, more sweet-tart aspect. The obvious choice? Balsamic vinegar!

I tried a balsamic-herb reduction syrup like the one used in this Watermelon Salad. But the acid was too low and the sugar too high.

Instead, add just a little less than ¼ teaspoon plain balsamic vinegar into your muddling! The acid is tart, but the natural smoky pomegranate notes add a layer of depth.

What about the rest of the acid? Half a lime is all you need for this recipe. Remember that balsamic vinegar adds a tart and acidic flavor as well. If you add juice from a whole lime on top of the vinegar, you’ll throw off the acid to sugar balance! (Plus only using half a lime gives the perfect excuse to make two mojitos a night!)