Enjoy 4th of July with a special mojito

RA Star Spangled Mojito (Credit: Courtesy RA Sushi)

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By Megan Finnerty
Metromix

An ice-cold beer is the quintessential 4th of July drink. But this year, a handful of Valley restaurants are giving you a reason to put down the suds and experiment with a more patriotic cocktail. These are two of my favorites, mostly because they don't rely on blue Curaçao to make them feel festive. Instead, they are updates of the classic mojito. They're only available to celebrate Independence Day, but they're so well-crafted, I'd be delighted to drink them year round.

RA Sushi: Served at the rock-and-roll-themed sushi locations all over the Valley, the RA Star Spangled Mojito is a sweet, blueberry cocktail available July 3-5. Lime and mint are muddled, then topped with white rum, blueberry puree, triple sec, soda water and lemon-lime soda, then garnished with fresh blueberries, $8. It's an innovative twist on the ever-popular mojito.

Wildfish Seafood Grille: At this upscale Scottsdale Waterfront restaurant, the bartenders are adding watermelon to the mojito, making the sweet cocktail lighter and more refreshing, $5. Mint and watermelon chunks are muddled, then topped with Bacardi rum, watermelon pucker and a splash of soda water, then garnished with watermelon slices. It's a pretty, easy-to-sip cocktail with a recipe worth stealing; it would be perfect poolside.