After a long work week and writing about my favorite non-alcoholic summer beverage earlier this afternoon, cocktail hour dawned and I was just about to make one of my favorite summer cocktails, strawberry bourbon lemonade. But why let bourbon have all the fun? I asked myself. (No, seriously. I did say that.) Plus, I’ve been dying to use St. Germain in some of my libation creations, that famous French elderflower liqueur that often makes appearances in some very tasty drinks I’ve sampled over the years. I bought myself a bottle last month and today accepted the challenge of incorporating it into a new(by) cocktail.

The result? My take on the strawberry mojito, made of course with farmers’-market-fresh strawberries and mint. I also scoped out a few potential recipes on the web; my version was inspired by those I saw here and here.

I know, really not the best picture. Sigh. My camera was recharging and my cell phone was misbehaving. But you get the idea, I hope.

Here’s the recipe.

• 2 oz rum (I used light)
• 1 oz St. Germain
• 1 oz simple syrup
• Juice from 1 lime
• 7-8 strawberries
• Several mint leaves (to taste)

Muddle the strawberries and mint together in whatever way you can, either with a classic muddler, mortar and pestle, or by finely chopping or mashing with a knife. You could even give it a quick blend, I suppose. To a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all of the ingredients together, shake, and pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with lime, mint, or strawberries, if you like.

And, by the way, of course the drink looks remarkably similar – identical, really – to my beloved strawberry bourbon lemonade. How could it not? In both drinks, the liquors are the same brownish color and strawberries are the dominant flavor that also lend their pinkish hue. Also, both are awesome. But don’t let looks fool you. This is a very different drink and one that mojito lovers will enjoy in the warm summer months.

Or, you know, whenever.

Dr. P. K. Newby is a nutrition scientist and educator with expertise in the prevention of obesity and chronic diseases through diet and the relations between agriculture, food production, and public health. She brings together her passions for food, cooking, science, and sustainability through her writing and videos to help people eat their way towards better health, one delectable bite at a time. If you like what you see here at The Nutrition Doctor is In the Kitchen, please subscribe to my blog from the home page, become a fan on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, check out my food porn on Pinterest, watch my cooking videos on YouTube, and peruse my recipe page for soups, salads, seafood, sweets, and more. Thanks for reading!