Hibiscus And Blackberry Mojito Cocktail Recipe

The mojito is always a most popular drink choice, and this traditional libation is best known for its bold mint flavor. However, there are plenty of ways to jazz up your average mojito by adding ingredients. This particular recipe calls for hibiscus syrup, which adds a sweet, floral flavor to the beverage. Pair that with the essence of tart blackberries, and this cocktail is full of bold notes. We should also mention that the addition of the hibiscus syrup and blackberries give the drink a lovely and aesthetically-pleasing purple hue.

Recipe developer Jennine Rye came up with this awesome cocktail that is sure to wow your friends if you want to play bartender for the night. "I love how refreshing it is, [and] also how balanced and complex the flavors are. I love the addition of floral notes in drinks; they pair so well with fruity flavors, and add a different and more interesting dimension to the palette," Rye shares. "The inspiration behind this drink is the current trend for botanical and floral flavors, which I love, combined with fruits. I was also really attracted to the deep purple and red hues of hibiscus and blackberries — beautifully deep color tones to go with the beautifully deep flavor combination. A great pairing." 

Keep reading to find out how to make this killer cocktail. 

For this recipe, you will only need to grab a few things, including mint springs, blackberries, lime, granulated sugar, hibiscus syrup, white rum, and soda water. "Hibiscus syrup can typically be found in slightly higher-end supermarkets here in the U.K., and can also be ordered online from various shops. If you are struggling to find it, fear not — as the flavor is becoming more trendy, it is also becoming more widely available," Rye explains. "If hibiscus syrup isn't available, it's also worth searching for dried hibiscus as a replacement. In which case, you can just allow the dried hibiscus to sit, and steep in the rum for 10 minutes before straining and using, although you will want to add another teaspoon of sugar to replace the sweetness that is in the syrup." 

"Rosehip is also a potential alternative to hibiscus," Rye continues. "It has a similar tartness to hibiscus, though different floral notes, and it pairs well with blackberry." 

Once you have those items, you can make this hibiscus and blackberry mojito.

Be sure to select 2 tall glasses to make this drink. First, add the mint to each glass evenly, making sure to set aside 2 sprigs for the garnish at the end. Next, divide the cut limes and blackberries evenly between the 2 glasses, saving a few blackberries for garnish. At this point, you will also want to add 1 teaspoon of sugar to each glass. 

"Blackberries make for a great mojito because the tart berry flavor pairs so well with rum, and also the sweet-tart combination of the sugar and lime," Rye explains. "They also pair really well with hibiscus, as hibiscus brings a tartness almost like cranberry, and the floral notes make me think about blackberry bushes and blackberry picking."

Muddle the contents inside the glass. "Muddling the ingredients helps to release their flavors into the drink, which is an important step if you want to get a mojito just right," Rye explains. "If you don't have a muddler at home, that isn't a big set back; you can always just use the end of a wooden spoon or similar kitchen utensil." 

Then, add 1 tablespoon of hibiscus syrup to each glass. Next, divide the white rum evenly between the glasses. "White rum is the go-to rum for mojitos, and it has quite a different flavor to dark rum," Rye explains. "It has a much lighter and fresher sweetness, whereas dark rum has a deeper, more intense, and almost smoky flavor. You could use dark rum instead for this recipe, but you just need to be aware that it would change the flavor, and aesthetic of the cocktail." Use a spoon to combine the cocktail. 

To complete these cocktails, add a few ice cubes and top with soda water. Then, garnish each glass with the additional mint leaves and blackberries. 

"The sweetness of this hibiscus and blackberry mojito means that it pairs well with desserts, especially creamy ones, providing a fruity, cleansing flavor to balance out creamy bases," Rye notes. "It is also great served with a plate of chips, or classic Mexican food."