Mother Mojito

• The mojito, from Cuba, mixes the cool flavor of mint with sweet light or white rum, simple syrup, lime juice and club soda. For a simple mojito, muddle or crush a pinch of mint leaves with a few splashes of simple syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and add ice, a shot of rum and a few splashes of lime juice. Shake the cocktail shaker, then pour the contents into a glass and top with soda. For a twist, substitute the rum with vodka.

Just a Julep

• The mint julep, the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, is a strangely delicious pairing of bourbon or American whiskey and fresh mint leaves. Mint juleps actually have their own cups, which are small pewter or copper containers that look like miniature champagne buckets. For a classic mint julep, crush a pinch of mint leaves with a few splashes of simple syrup to extract the mint oil, then add a shot of bourbon or whiskey. Fill the cup with ice, then stir until the cup becomes icy.

What a Watermelon

• Mint goes well with watermelon in agua frescas, juices and even sorbets, so it is no surprise that the two flavors complement each other in cocktails as well. One simple watermelon cocktail is watermelon lemonade, which is traditionally made with vodka. Muddle a few pinches of mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker with two parts lemon juice and one part sugar. Fill with ice, then add one part each vodka and watermelon juice, shake, pour the contents into a glass and top with club soda. Substitute the lemon juice with lime juice for a watermelon limeade.

Mighty Margaritas

• Mint can really spruce up a number of margaritas. One flavorful margarita is a pomegranate and mint margarita. Muddle a sprig of mint with a few splashes of simple syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add one part lemon juice, two parts tequila and four parts pomegranate juice, shake for about 10 seconds, then pour the drink into a highball or rocks glass. Substitute the pomegranate juice with watermelon juice, peach nectar, cantaloupe agua fresca or even ginger beer for a variety of minty margaritas.

Gingerly Minty

• Mint really brings out the floral flavors of gin in a slew of cocktails. One simple mixed drink is a minty gin rickey. Muddle a pinch of mint with a few dashes of simple syrup, add ice, a shot of gin and a couple of splashes of lime juice, then top the drink with club soda. Skip the lime juice, add a couple of cucumber slices and substitute the club soda with tonic water for a cucumber and mint gin and tonic, or just omit the lime juice in the minty gin rickey for a minted gin froth.