Valley's best cocktails

Mojito

The Place: Padre's Modern Mexican Cuisine, 1044 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602-277-1749

The Padre's mojito is delightfully sweet and minty. One sip will have yearning for more as the infused mint tickles your nose. The ingredients are fresh and muddled to perfection, releasing the mint's essential oils. It's mixed with Cruzan light rum that, aged two years, is sufficiently mellow to allow all the flavors to come through. Padre's has an expansive menu and is a central Phoenix favorite for upscale takes on traditional Latin flavors. It also happens to server one of the best post-night-out brunches west of the Mississippi.

The Price: $7

The Magic: Blend of Cruzan light rum, lime juice and muddled mint splashed with soda, on the rocks.