Recently bellying up at the bar at Metropolitan Grill (2931 E. Battlefield, Springfield, 417-889-4951, metropolitan-grill.com), I overlooked rows of Irish whiskey and rich bourbons, all calling my name. That day, it was a sweet and fruity mojito that beckoned. The Grilled Pineapple Mojito ($10) is just one of many new fruit-infused tinctures to hit the Metro cocktail list in time for summer. Served in a stemmed wine glass, this tropical beverage is ripe with flavor. Chunks of freshly grilled pineapple settle at the bottom of the glass with shreds of muddled mint and baby cilantro. Like a traditional mojito, this tropical getaway is made with plenty of fresh mint, rum and a dash of simple syrup and topped with soda water. The biggest difference here is that this drink features Malibu coconut rum, which turns this minty mojito into a sweet, beach-side beverage. The flavor of coconut reigns king, but that fresh, minty flavor that pushed the mojito to the top of the cocktail charts is still present with each gulp. Aloha!
