All well-made cocktails are meant to bring out many different flavors on your palate. Just think about some of the best cocktails you’ve had — many have a punch of sour, which adds a deep, bright flavor. The secret? Often lime juice — it’s not just a garnish on the rim of the glass. Without lime, some of the most popular and classic cocktails would fall flat (lime juice is key in the margarita and the gimlet). It helps balance a drink and downplay the strength of the alcohol, which usually means you end up drinking more in the end!
We love the way limes work in cocktails, so we’ve rounded up some of the best lime-based cocktails from around the web. These drinks pack the pucker, but in a good way.
Fresh Mint Mojitos
The best Cuban mojitos are made with just five ingredients: mint leaves, sugar, lime juice, white rum and soda to top it all off. It's one of the most refreshing lime-based cocktails.
Cosmopolitan
Most people will recognize a classic cosmo cocktail made with vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice. This one tops the classic drink with Champagne for a bit of finesse. Garnish with fresh cranberries and serve.
Moscow Mule
It's all about ginger and lime in this cocktail. Vodka is the base, with ginger beer and freshly squeezed lime juice as the main players. For extra sharp flavor, add grated ganger and shake with ice. Garnish with ginger candy. Get the Moscow Mule recipe from Teroforma
Cuba Libre
Another classic Cuban drink, the Cuba Libre combines cola with rum and lime juice. It's basically a rum and coke with lime-- it couldn't get any easier than that. Get the Cuba Libre recipe from Creative Culinary
Passion Fruit Caipirinha
This famous Brazilian cocktail, made with Cachaca (a liquor made from sugarcane), relies on lime juice for that freshness and acidity. This version also includes passion fruit juice for a tropical take. Get the Passion Fruit Caipirinha recipe from the Culinary Chronicles
Gin Rickey
This fizzy and refreshing cocktail is perfect for a hot day. It includes gin, lime juice and soda water. You can also make an original Rickey, which uses Bourbon instead of gin. Get the Gin Rickey recipe from Oh So Beautiful Paper
Mai Tai
The classic Mai Tai is made with just a few ingredients, including rum, Grand Marnier, Orgeat syrup and lime juice. Add a characteristic mini umbrella and you've got the perfect beach-side drink. Get the Mai Tai recipe from Kitchen Riffs
Elderflower Gimlet
The classic gimlet is made with gin and Rose's lime juice (a sweetened bottled product), but this recipe refreshes the classic. It uses fresh lime juice and St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) to create a cocktail with more flavor and aroma. Get the Elderflower Gimlet recipe from BowlLicking
