Raspberry Vodka Mojito Cocktail
A light and refreshing sort of mojito; This Raspberry Vodka Mojito Cocktail uses vodka instead of rum but with plenty of mint and berries, it’s a summer hit!
My that does look yummalicious doesn’t it…if I say so myself! I love summer cocktails and this Raspberry Vodka Mojito Cocktail is no exception. Summer drinks are easy; a favorite mixer, some fruit, a bit of sugar and citrus and you can make a million varieties on that theme.
I’m sure purists would decry my calling this a mojito; after all there is no rum. Still, I think Mojito purists would be much more laid back than Martini purists who shout the loudest if the world Martini is affixed to any spirits other than gin and vermouth…such a travesty of Martinidom!
I had considered Raspberry Martini Mojito or maybe Raspberry Marjito…or how about a Raspberry Motini but those names do nothing to convey the beautiful bounty in that glass…trying too hard simply complicates things so Raspberry Vodka Mojito it is!!
Without a doubt, my inspiration was a bottle of Van Gogh Raspberry Vodka; the name slid off of my tongue easily enough and beyond the vodka; the other ingredients are quite comfortable in Mojito world.
I’ve always had a mint plant in my garden; the secret to enjoying mint without having it take over is to plant it in a large container that you then sink into the ground. Before I moved I had a plant that had flourished for 20 years in a 5-gallon paint bucket that was put into a hole the same size.
Yes that hole in the ground is a pain if you have hard clay like we do in Colorado, but trust me, years of having a perennial mint plant without it taking over your garden will make that effort worthwhile, trust me.
If runners try to take root where the plant touchs the ground they’re easy enough to remove but it simply can not send out shoots from underground and take over an entire garden. Pure mint heaven!
I think my main purpose for mint is cocktails; first it was for Mint Juleps but now clearly I knew I needed it for Mojitos even before I knew they existed! I love the basic flavoring of a Mojito even beyond the rum component.
Lime, mint, simple syrup and sparkling water alone would make a refreshing non alcoholic beverage and I have indeed served them to friends who are choosing to not imbibe. Add some raspberries and it just gets better. Add some Van Gogh Raspberry Vodka? Oh yeah.
Van Gogh Raspberry Vodka is hand-crafted, using only natural ingredients which insures that it actually tastes and smells exactly like fresh wild raspberries; perfect to compliment cocktails using fresh fruit. It simply can not be left unsaid either…they have the most gorgeous bottle designs; they are like a piece of art!
I’ve tried a variety of flavored vodkas and Van Gogh is really topnotch; the flavors are natural and not an artificial component and it makes a difference.
Mojitos start with the ingredients being muddled, (basically a new-fangled word for mashed). I do prefer using a muddler, a tool meant for that job but in lieu of having one, try the back of a spoon or even the handle of a regular kitchen knife.
The mint leaves, simple syrup and fruits (normally just lime slices) are put in the bottom of a Collins glass and the mashing together releases their natural oils and juice.
In this rendition, raspberries are included in the muddling, vodka is added to the those ingredients, fresh lime slices are layered with ice and then everything is topped off with lime sparkling water (I’m in love with Perrier Lime).
Although I used raspberries today, the Mojito is a great cocktail for the seasonal bounty of fruits. I’ve done them with strawberries and blackberries and this year I’m going to try some peaches later in the summer.
It’s cool, it’s pretty, it’s damn tasty and on a warm summer afternoon I do believe it’s just what the doctor ordered!
PIN IT! ‘Raspberry Vodka Mojito Cocktail’
Raspberry Vodka Mojito
Ingredients
- 4 large fresh mint leaves
- 6-8 fresh raspberries
- 4 slices of lime
- 3-4 Tbsp simple syrup depending on your taste bring equal parts water and sugar to boil just until sugar dissolves; remove from heat and let cool
- 2- oz raspberry vodka
- Lime Sparkling water or Club soda approx 6-oz
- Mint and raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a tall thin glass, muddle together mint leaves, raspberries, one lime slice and simple syrup until all ingredients are mixed together and release their fragrance..
- Add vodka and stir well.
- Fill glass 1/3 full with ice; squeeze lime slice over glass and drop into glass. Repeat til glass is full of ice and layered with lime.
- Top off the glass with lime sparkling water or club soda and stir (I didn't stir for the photos because I thought it looked pretty but you should!).
- Garnish with fresh berries and a sprig of fresh mint before serving.
Nutrition
I was given a sample of the Van Gogh Vodka to create this cocktail however all commentary is my own.
I love this and have all the ingredients. Do you have a way to prepare a large batch ahead of time to take out on the boat with a bunch of girls? I’m bringing the drinks on Wednesday.
As far as quantity, simply decide how many cocktails you want and multiply the ingredients out for a larger batch; might be nice to make ahead and chill thoroughly too. Don’t add the sparkling water to everything else but chill it and add to the other ingredients as you serve it or you won’t have that fizz. Sounds like a fun day!
Where did you get that glassware?? I need it right now!
I can’t say for sure but I can guess HomeGoods; I get a lot of stuff there and it’s cheap! My new favorite place though? Goodwill! Talk about cheap; I got some gorgeous glasses 2 weeks ago and they were each $.50!
I am such a cocktail fiend. I think I’m going to spend hours perusing your cocktail series! This raspberry cocktail has most of my favourite flavours mixed together into one delicious drink! I love mojitos, lime and mint… paired with raspberry vodka and fresh berries? Genius! Thanks for the inspiration!
We just loved it Laura; mojito purists might decry my use of vodka but no matter, it was cool, pretty and refreshing. Thanks for visiting…Barb
This drink is a masterpiece in itself! Xo
I love you…cause I thought so too!
I have this issue, I pick out alcohol bottles from the cool pics on the bottle. I love love this bottle of vodka, so beautiful! Your mojito is so freaking gorgeous! I want a sip,need to try raspberry vodka now! Your pics are so beautiful, Hugs, Terra
Thanks Tara…it’s not always true but those pics were SO representative of the cocktail…effervescent, refreshing, fruity. I loved it!
I’ve yet to try any of the flavoured vodkas. This one is really tempting me too though.
Mojitos are my sole reason for growing mint! Being a new gardener, I foolishly planted “Mojito Mint” in my garden last year instead of a pot. I’ve since put it in a pot but I cannot get rid of the mint in the ground no matter how much digging I do. But I have been able to donate several pots of mint to my library’s plant sale and to friends and coworkers…And I’ve decided I need to try my hand at mint juleps also.
It might call for some roundup…it will kill anything. Wish I could have gotten to you sooner but at least you have mint. And mojitos!
Oh my heavens – that looks amazing! Great tip re: the mint
I am usually good with that advice ‘after’ it has overrun someone’s garden. Hope to get it out there for a new gardener and save them a lot of hassle. I love mint…it loves to travel!
I made this without raspberries. These are wonderful! I can’t wait to try it with berries. Thanks for sharing.
Good to know Marsha; the base of mint and lime is so refreshing I just knew it would be good with or without fruit but I appreciate your testing that for me. 🙂
Wow Barb, this looks stunning! Whatever its called it sounds delicious! I love “muddled” drinks.
Simply stunning, Barb! I call it delicious. Love the mint, raspberry and lime together – reminds me of raspberry lime rickey! I look forward to enjoying a refreshing cocktail like this one soon. Cheers!
Thanks Hannah; I just loved this one; I’ll have to scope out a raspberry lime rickey and see the difference. Maybe I made one and didn’t know it? 🙂
What else did you put in the glass? Voodoo magic? …
That drink looks beyond beautiful 🙂
That is EXACTLY what I included! Thanks Nusrat; it was one that I loved especially too.
Call it whatever you want Barb, I’ll just call it good!
Pretty much my thoughts too Abbe! Time to get together again? Let’s, soon.
Beautiful! By any name this is a perfect summer drink, Barb! I am going to try mint in a container this summer too. Had a mint lemonade yesterday that was so refreshing and would be easy to make at home. To have mint on hand for drinks like this would be out of this world!
Mint is great to have on hand; it’s just not so great when it gets out of hand!
Mint lemonade sounds divine Holly…even without a single drop of vodka…yes, I can do that, I promise!
I think Raspberry Vodka Mojito works; as would Minty Raspberry Vodka cocktail (or cooler). And if you had mint simple syrup instead of doing the muddling, you could call it a Minty Raspberry Vodka Collins! So many possibilities. 😉 I love drink names! Whatever you call it, very refreshing and cooling. Really nice – thanks.
See why I finally cave and just go with a simple name; I spent FAR too much time thinking about it and in truth, like the name to be descriptive of the cocktail so went the easy route. Someone else suggested something like Raspbatazzini…cute huh?
Love it! Cheers!
This looks so refreshing whatever you call it. I guess I’ve really missed the mojito boat or have never really had a good one, but I think this drink might just change my mind. It is beautiful to look at to top it all off.
I’ll fix you one…I’m betting you would love it. I’m betting you would love the original mojito too. We could do a taste test. 🙂
Now this is my kind of cocktail! Refreshing and light, perfect for a summer evening. Is it 5:00 yet?
Really is perfect for just that. The only problem I had was it went down SO easy; I had to shoot another cocktail after this one; remains to be seen how those photos turned out. 🙂