DIY Lime and Mint Rum Infusion

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Upgrade your next mojito with this lime and mint infused rum. It’s an easy recipe to make - the hard part is waiting for the flavors to infuse!

Rum infusions and homemade liqueurs make wonderful gifts. Create the infusion in a pretty glass jar, add a gift tag, and you have a delicious, homemade gift! I love doing this for my homemade cocktail kits. Coming up with a new infusion to give to a friend is so much fun!

Since dark rums are full of their own flavor, your favorite white rum is the best choice for this alcohol infusion. Also skip the pineapple rums or any other rum already infused with flavor.

Liquor store shelves are full of flavored rums but it’s hard to know what exactly is in those bottles. Added sugar? Added color? Both are likely. Infusing your own liquor at home let you know exactly what’s being added to your rum. You also control the infusion time, making the flavors as strong - or not - as you want.

What You Need

White rum
Limes
Fresh mint
Pint mason jar with an airtight lid

How to Make Lime and Mint Infused Rum

Wash 2 limes and using a vegetable peeler, carefully peel the limes. You want to peel off the green rind, but not the white pith underneath. (The flavor is in the rind. The pith is bitter.)

Place the lime peels and a handful of washed, fresh mint leaves in a clean, 1 pint mason jar.

Rum being poured into a jar filled with lime peels and mint.

Fill the jar to the top with your favorite white rum. (Do not use dark rum or spiced rum.)

Tightly cover the jar and put it in a cool, dark place - like a pantry or cupboard.

A hand screwing on the lid to a jar filled with rum, mint, and lime.

Let the jar sit for 7 days, gently swirling the jar every day or two.

After 7 days, strain the lime peel and mint out of the rum. Discard the lime peel and mint.

Enjoy the rum!

Tips

Get creative with your infusion ingredients! Lots of flavors are delicious with rum. Using the instructions above, change up what you add to your rum. Complementary flavors for rum include: pineapple, citrus fruits - especially orange and lime, dragon fruit, and vanilla beans.

Make your rum spicy! Sliced habanero peppers or jalapeño peppers are great for infusing rum, but be sure to test your infusion every few HOURS if you go this route. Depending on the spice of the pepper and your heat tolerance, leaving it to infuse for days can render the rum undrinkable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you infuse rum?

This depends on how strong you want the flavors to be. I recommend 7 days for this infusion so the rum is heavily infused with mint and lime flavors. You can strain the infusion early and enjoy it with a lighter flavor if you prefer.

What is infused rum?

Infused rum is rum that has had fruit or herbs added to it and is left to sit for several days so the rum takes on the flavors of whatever was added to it.

How long does infused liquor last?

When kept in an airtight glass container at room temperature, infused liquor will last at least 6 weeks. You can also keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. However you store the final product, for best results, keep the rum at room temperature and out of direct sunlight during the infusion process.

What can I mix infused rum with?

Simple syrup and club soda will give you a delicious drink when made with your lime and mint infused rum. Combine 1.5 oz infused rum with 1 oz simple syrup and 4 oz club soda or sparkling water. Add ice cubes and a squeeze of lime - stir, sip and enjoy!

What to Make with Lime and Mint Rum

Use your infused rum in place of traditional white rum in this classic mojito recipe or in my blueberry mojito recipe. Both are delicious when made with this infused rum.