MOJITO MASH-UP: A Perfect Summer Cocktail Gets Even Better

Ah, St. Louis summers. Apologies to the sweater-weather sect, but my spirits soar with rising temps. But when the Mercury rockets off the charts, nothing sounds better than an ice-cold Mojito. For this high-summer cocktail, light rum is usually the spirited host, while lime juice, simple syrup, club soda and mint make the A-list. Like to stick to tradition? Order the Mojito c. 1920 at Taste. It’s possibly the cleanest Mojito in town: no flecks of mint or too-sweet simple syrup to drown out the dry, white rum and tart lime juice. Looking to swap in coconut water? How about a little strawberry? Order one of these seven sippers for a patio-perfect Mojito like you’ve never tasted before. 1. Spicy Pomegranate Mojito at Dressel’s Public House This Mojito gets its mojo from a full-flavored, house-made syrup of ginger, habanero, pomegranate and lime. Fruity yet tart with lingering spice, I didn’t expect to find this free verse Mojito at a poet’s pub. 2. Gran Passion Mojito at Ruth’s Chris Steak House Rarely do you find a primo aged rum like Don Q Gran Añejo mixed into a Mojito. All that aging (up to 12 years) tempers the angry pirate. Add passion fruit purée and he’ll be putting on the charm. 3. Mexican Mojito at Milagro Modern Mexican Swap tequila for rum, sweeten with agave nectar instead of simple syrup, and you’ve got a fine south-of-the-border version of this Cuban mainstay. 4. Coconut Mojito at Hiro It’s an Asian-Caribbean handshake when coconut water mingles with rum. Lime juice and fresh mint serve as ambassadors, maintaining diplomatic relations for tropical nations. 5. Drake’s Recovery at BC’s Kitchen The Draque was the precursor to the Mojito. BC’s Kitchen bar manager Justin Cardwell revived it – and improved it with a topper of bubbly. Best part: You get to call it. Will it be sweet Moscato or a dry Spanish cava? 6. Strawberry-Basil Mojito at Bristol Seafood Grill Strawberries and basil love to share space on the plate. Why not in the glass? Add rum, pure cane syrup and lime juice, and it’s a whole new kind of strawberry festival. 7. Ginger Mojito at Boogaloo There’s so much muddled mint and lime swimming in the glass that “dirty Mojito” wouldn’t be a misnomer. But the ginger purée puts us in Zen mode. Suddenly, we don’t care.