History and Origin of the Mojito Cocktail

By Sina Torner / Last updated on April 13, 2023

The Mojito is among the oldest cocktails, and as ever so often with these vintage drinks, the history is quite opaque. Still, it's not entirely unknown, and we want to shed some light on the origin of the Cuban favorite.
Origin of the Mojito cocktail is Havana, Cuba

The origin of the Mojito cocktail lies in Havana, Cuba. The exact story of how the cocktail was invented is up for discussion. One of the most popular stories suggests that Sir Francis Drake is involved in the creation of the first Mojito. Allegedly, he combined Aguardiente, mint leaves, lime, and sugar, creating a cure for scurvy.

Another story claims that South American Indians traveled to Cuba in order to find new herbs and plants. During their stay in Cuba, they're said to have created the first Mojito recipe in history. 

Besides, there are multiple sources that claim the drink recipe as their invention. One of them is a famed bar in Havana called La Bodeguita del Medio.

Read on to find out all we currently know about the origins of the minty cocktail and the different stories.

Did Sir Francis Drake invent the Mojito?

One widespread theory is that the drink goes back to the Cuban capital, Havana, and to a British pirate, admiral, hero, and plunderer. The label for the legendary Sir Francis Drake ultimately depends on one's perspective.

In the 1500s, the famous British seafarer Sir Francis Drake apparently got stranded in Havana. Some sources say it was because his complete crew was sick due to one cause or another (in those days, sailors were more often in poor health than not). Others talk of necessary repairs to his ship after a hurricane. 

Mojito history sir francis drake
Sir Francis Drake

Drake's alleged formula

Either way, Drake is said to have arrived in Havana in search of medical help. Allegedly, his efforts led to unearthing mint to calm the stomach, lime juice to cure scurvy, and an Aguardiente infusion of the Chuchuhuasi tree bark. 

Aguardiente was an early form of Rum, frequently used in Latin America back then. The Chuchuhuasi bark is still a favored medicine for indigenous tribes and is known for its various healing and health properties.

Mojito Rum cocktail

To make the potion more drinkable, Drake also added a bit of sugar to the mix. The final result is said to have contained the following:

  • 2oz Aguardiente
  • six mint leaves
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tsp sugar

Today, many regard El Draque, as the Mojito was supposedly called, as the first-ever cocktail in the history of mixology. Another title Sir Francis Drake could then call his own (1). However, when looking at the documentation of Drake's travels, things look different:

Fact Check

When doing some research, it becomes clear that -except for sites trying to explain the origin of the Mojito Cocktail- no source actually mentions Drake has ever been to Cuba. He sailed the Caribbean, but there's no official account of him ever laying anchor on the Cuban coastline.

Plus, with what is known about the plundering pirate life he led, it seems pretty far-fetched that he would wander around Cuba, mixing and blending drinks or potions. He surely would have sent someone to do that. 

By the way, another version of this story suggests that Sir Francis Drake created the drink on board his ship, but that's a minor detail compared to other stories that circulate.

Did South American Indians create the first Mojito?

Another legend says that South American Indians traveled to Cuba to find more herbs, plants, and spices for their various medical potions. They mixed the readily available ingredients mint, Aguardiente, and sugar cane syrup to cure and prevent illnesses like scurvy and dysentery. 

Just like with the first story, there's no historical evidence we could find that supports the story.

Were slaves inventing the Mojito?

Yet another possibility is that slaves working in Cuban sugar cane fields invented the first version of the Mojito. They might have tried to make the Aguardiente better by mixing it with ingredients that were readily available. This theory is in line with the invention of other spirits and Cuban cocktails like the Canchánchara or the Daiquiri.

One source that picks up this story is Diffords, yet they don't include any evidence that supports the story.

Is 'La Bodeguita del Medio" the origin of the Mojito?

Also, the renowned Cuban Bar La Bodeguita del Medioknown for their world-famous regular, Ernest Hemingway, has raised claims regarding the invention of the Mojito in the past. Hemingway once also left a handwritten note at the place, praising their Mojito.

Yet, again there's no evidence aside from the claim by the bar itself that would support this case.

Note in Cuba Mojito Daiquiri. by Ernest Hemingway

The historical facts

David Wondrich, a renowned cocktail historian, once placed the invention of the Mojito as we know it between 1862 (after the foundation of the Bacardi company) and 1920. That would be roughly 300 years later and leave Mojito far from the first-ever cocktail.

In a cocktail book from the 1930s, the drink first appeared as Mojito in written form. It was published by one of the most famous bars in Havana at that time: the Sloppy Joe's Bar.

It's the first recipe in their book, Sloppy Joe's Cocktails Manual, on page 9. You can see that the recipe didn't change much since then. It is still pretty much the same and is now as popular as ever. We usually like to use Havana Club Rum, but if you want to keep it with Sloppy Joe, go for Bacardi - another Rum brand of Cuban origin.

Mojito recipe in cocktail book Sloppy Joe's Manual

Ultimately, it's impossible to tell the true origin of Mojito. Just the location - Cuba- seems set in stone. Still, the story of a pirate certainly was perceived as the most exciting, which might well be why it's the best-known and commonly told version. 

Why is it called Mojito?

The story trying to partly explain the name relies on the theory that Drake invented the Cuban cocktail. Thus, it is more of a saga than anything else. In honor of its inventor, the drink was initially given his Spanish nickname El Draque

Over time Rum replaced Aguardiente in the recipe, and Chuchuhuasi bark went out of fashion. Subsequently, the name also changed - from El Draque to Mojito. However, when and exactly why this should have been the case remains unknown.

Some connect it to the Spanish words mojo, translating to moistened, soaked, or dip. One explanation could be that when the story of its origin fell into oblivion, the drink remained popular and was eventually given this more generic name. 

Two Mojito cocktails on dark background

Mojito Cocktail Recipe

A classic Cuban rum cocktail with fresh mint, lime juice, and rum.
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: cuban
Keyword: Rum Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 257kcal
Cost: $2.50

Ingredients

  • 2 oz White Rum - Havana Rum 3 years
  • 1 oz Lime juice
  • 2 tbsp Cane sugar
  • 10-15 Mojito mint leaves - plus additional for garnish
  • 2-4 oz Chilled club soda
  • 1 Sprig Mojito Mint - for garnish

Instructions

  • Add Mojito mint, lime juice, and cane sugar into a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the ingredients to release the flavor of the mint. Be careful not to blend the mint leaves into tiny pieces. They should more or less stay intact.
    1 oz Lime juice, 10-15 Mojito mint leaves, 2 tbsp Cane sugar
  • Make sure the sugar almost completely dissolves before you add the Rum and plenty of ice. Shake the cocktail for 10-15 seconds.
    2 oz White Rum
  • Fill a Highball glass with ice cubes or crushed ice. Also, add additional mint leaves and make sure you "slapped" them before. That will release their beautiful aroma.
  • Strain your cocktail into the glasses and fill it up with chilled club soda.
    2-4 oz Chilled club soda
  • Slap the mint sprig and use it to decorate the Mojito.
    1 Sprig Mojito Mint

Nutrition

Serving: 7.25gCalories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 12.6gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 72mgSugar: 12.3gVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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