Tropical Passion Mojito: A "Simple Saturday Sipper"

If last week's Sake Drops are one of my favorite summer cocktails, mojitos would be the other. The combination of mint, lime, rum and club soda is refreshing, light and not too sweet. I like them classic but I also like to mix them up a bit and add different flavors. I bought a dozen lilikoi (passion fruit) at last weeks farmer's market and juiced them thinking I would make some lilikoi curd. Of course the week got away from me and it hasn't happened yet so I keep looking at the fresh lilikoi juice in my fridge. Thinking it would be a great addition to a cocktail, I combined some island flavors to create this Tropical Passion Mojito. The lilkoi juice, mixed with local limes and mint and some coconut flavored rum makes a wonderful "Simple Saturday Sipper" that will transport you straight to the tropics.

Tropical Passion Mojito
by Deb, Kahakai Kitchen

(Recipe for 1 drink, can easily be increased)

1/2 lime, quartered
5-6 fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon agave or simple syrup
2 ounces coconut flavored rum
2 ounces passion fruit juice or nectar
3 ounces club soda

ice

In a tall glass, muddle lime pieces and mint leaves with agave or simple syrup.

Add rum and passion fruit juice to ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Pour liquid into glass with the muddled mint and lime and top with club soda. Stir well. Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Results: Excellent! Perfectly crisp and just sweet enough--this is a delicious drink. You can often find passion fruit juice or nectar in the juice section in good grocery and natural foods stores or at some liquor stores, but if you can't find it, mango, peach or apricot juice would make a nice substitute. You can use regular rum, but the coconut rum adds a nice layer of flavor. Don't have a "muddler?" The back of a spoon will do but you'll look so much cooler with your own muddler, even a simple one like this. 

Put your feet up and enjoy this one with some Hawaiian or steel drum music. 

Happy Weekend!