Summertime is Mojito time for many people — and what better time to enjoy one than July 11th, National Mojito Day?

We’re celebrating with these eight great recipes and want to share them with you. These include some interesting variations, including chocolate, saké, and even a few recipes for folks who don’t care for the traditional mint. (What’s wrong with you? Don’t answer that.)

Blueberry Mojito Popsicles
from Sarah Fennel at bromabakery.com
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
35 mint leaves
¾ cup lime juice
6 Tbsp light rum
6 oz. blueberries
popsicle mold (for 10 popsicles)

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and 25 mint leaves. Heat over medium heat until the  sugar is completely dissolved; then remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, strain out mint and pour syrup into a large bowl. Squeeze lime juice and rum into the bowl and mix until combined. Pour into 10 popsicle molds, filling a little more than ¾ of the way up. Toss one fresh mint leaf and about 12 blueberries into each mold. Fit with popsicle stick and freeze for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Note: We had trouble with the popsicles freezing so recommend changing the ½ cup of water to ¾ cup.

Blackberry-Plum Mojitos (Party Sized)
courtesy of Martha Stewart
1 1/4 cups sugar
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
2 pounds plums, pitted and cut into wedges (We used Santa Rosa plums for their sweetness.)
18 oz. fresh blackberries
1 cup fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
2 to 3 cups Beauregard Dixie Citrus vodka
6 cups DRY Rhubarb sparkling water

Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved—3 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool 15 minutes. Syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 month. Combine lemon juice, fruit, and basil in a bowl. Add syrup; mash lightly to release juices. Refrigerate at least 1 day and up to 4 days. Combine fruit mixture and vodka in a pitcher or punch bowl; ladle about 1/3 cup into each glass. Fill with ice. Top with sparkling water, garnish with more basil, and serve.

Here’s one for those who don’t care for mint. Basil is a related plant to mint but has a very different taste to it.

Basil Mojitos
by Stephanie Spencer at My Recipes and Sunset.com
10 large basil leaves, divided
1/4 cup plus 4 tsp. superfine sugar, divided
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup white rum
about 1/2 cup cold club soda
lime wedges

Whirl 2 basil leaves and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor until well blended; transfer to a plate and set aside. Put 6 to 8 remaining basil leaves in a large cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, the remaining 4 tsp. sugar, and lime juice. Muddle the mixture with the back of a thick wooden spoon, keeping your hand over the top to prevent spilling, until basil has broken up. Add rum and a few more ice cubes to shaker, cover, and shake to blend. Rub a lime wedge along rim of 2 low-ball glasses and dip in basil sugar (reserve remaining sugar for more cocktails). Add a few ice cubes to each glass. Remove top from shaker (do not strain), and divide mixture between glasses. Top off each with club soda and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Chocolate, Mint, and Lime Mojito
courtesy of Foodal.com

For the cocoa syrup:
1/2 cup granulated Sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. dark chocolate cocoa powder

For the drink:
8 chocolate mint leaves (substitute with regular mint if unavailable)
1 oz. lime juice
1 oz. cocoa syrup
2 oz. light rum
6 ice cubes
2 oz. club soda

Make the cocoa syrup:
Combine sugar, water, and cocoa in a small saucepot. Place on a burner over medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Allow the syrup to simmer for 3 minutes, until thickened slightly. Let cool, then store in a sealed jar.

Make the drink:
Muddle mint leaves and lime in the base of a highball glass. Stir in syrup and rum, then add the ice cubes. Top with club soda, garnish with a sprig of M. piperita (fresh peppermint), and enjoy!

The Black and Blue Mojito Recipe
by Kim Haasarud at Redbook Magazine
3 blackberries
10 blueberries
7 mint leaves
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. light rum
club soda

In a tall glass, muddle the berries and mint with the lime juice and simple syrup with the handle of a wooden spoon. Add the rum and some crushed ice; top with a splash of club soda and stir. Garnish with mint and more berries. Feel better!

Red, White and Blue Mojito
Island Company Rum and Food Network
12 to 15 fresh mint leaves, plus extra for topping
5 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. Island Company rum
1 1/2 oz. of club soda
4 oz. fresh lime juice
6 strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
lime wedges, for serving

In the bottom of the glasses, add 1 oz. of simple syrup each and a few of the mint leaves. Muddle with a muddler. Add a lime slice to each glass. Add strawberries to each glass, then fill with crushed ice three-quarters of the way full. Top with blueberries. Pour your rum, the rest of the syrup, lime juice and club soda over top. Mix with a long spoon or knife and serve with an additional sprig of mint.

Green Tea Saké Mosc-jito
by William Eccleston, GM/Wine Director of Ristorante Panorama in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1.5 oz. G Joy Saké
3/4 oz. Canton Ginger Liqueur
3/4 oz. green tea simple syrup
2 lime wedges
1 ½ oz. Sparkling Italian Moscato
candied ginger

Make the green tea syrup by boiling one green tea bag with ½ cup of water and ½ cup of sugar. Let cool before removing the tea bag.

Muddle with juice of 2 lime wedges and 8-10 mint leaves. Shake and pour into hi-ball glass. Float with the sparkling Italian Moscato. Garnish with candied ginger and lime wedge.

Irish Mojito
courtesy of Islands.com
½ lime, juiced
small handful of fresh mint leaves
1 ½ oz. Bacardi Limon
2 tsp. granulated sugar
a splash of club soda
a splash of Crème de Menthe (use green for more color)
lime wedge, for garnish

Squeeze half a lime into a cocktail shaker, add mint leaves and muddle. Add Bacardi, sugar, and a handful of ice and shake. Strain mixture into martini glass. Top off with a splash of club soda and a drizzle of Crème de Menthe, which will sink to the bottom. Add a lime wedge for garnish, and serve.

We’re wondering: Why not use an Irish whiskey? Give it a try and let us know how it turns out.