I've never been that much of a drinker - to me, most liquor tastes like this really nasty cough medicine I was prescribed as a child - but here are some drinks I like:

MOJITO

This Cuban favorite tastes like a rather limey Gin and Tonic - and make sure you don't get any yerba buena ("good grass") stuck in the straw!

2 teaspoons sugar
Juice of 1/2 lime
Fresh yerba buena (or mint) leaves
1 ounce white rum
Soda water
Put sugar and limejuice in a glass. Crush a few fresh mint leaves into the sugar and the lime juice. Add one ounce of white rum and ice cubes. Fill with soda water and serve with a sprig of mint.

PAT O'BRIEN'S HURRICANE

Especially fun in New Orleans, on the patio at Pat O's. You can also buy Cyclone mix.

4 oz. Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Cocktail Mix
4 oz. Dark Rum
Fill a 26 oz. hurricane glass with crushed ice and pour in dark rum and Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Cocktail Mix. Garnish with an orange and a cherry. Have Fun!

SHAMROCK SHAKE

Enjoy on St. Patrick's Day!

1 cup vanilla ice cream, slightly thawed
1/3 cup milk
2 Tablespoons half and half
1/8 teaspoon mint extract
4-5 drops of green food coloring
Blend!

BANANA-STRAWBERRY BATIDO

From the "Miami Spice" cookbook, as is the next one. A batido is a tropical "smoothie."

1 C hulled strawberries, plus 2 large berries for garnish
1 banana
1 T sweetened condensed milk
1 to 2 T sugar, to taste
1 T fresh lime juice, or to taste
1 1/2 C crushed ice

Combine all of the ingredients except the strawberry garnish in a blender, and puree until smooth. Taste for sweetness, adding sugar or lime juice as necessary. Pour the batidos into tall glasses. Garnish each with a whole strawberry and serve at once.

PUFFED WHEAT BATIDO

1 C puffed wheat cereal
1/2 C milk
1/2 C crushed ice
2 T sugar, or to taste
Pinch of salt

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth. Serve at once.