Everyone is good at something, but not all of us are savvy in the kitchen. Lucky for me, one of my friends makes a mean, from-scratch Mojito. (This, of course, isn't to undermine his sure laundry list of other, possibly more valuable, talents.)

Walk into his apartment when he's hosting a get-together, and the smell of mint overcomes your senses. He'll be behind the kitchen counter, mixing the requisite sugar, water, lime, and rum, a proud look on his face as he produces the final product: a sweet (and quite strong), minty concoction.

But my friend isn't one to vary his recipe. So when I noticed LoDo's Mynt Mojito Lounge offers a variety of flavors—from cucumber to ginger—I had to get my fix. Mynt is easy to miss, as it's surrounded by a number of always-packed Market Street hangouts (Pour House Pub, Oak Tavern, Maloney's Tavern). The dark interior, though, is a wonderful respite from the summer heat. And the fake palm trees, burgundy booths, and array of flavored rums and vodkas are reminiscent of a bar at an all-inclusive resort.

I hopped onto a bar stool and ordered a strawberry Mojito (typical Mojito ingredients muddled with strawberry puree), while my friend went more exotic with the Hawaiian version (pineapple rum and pineapple juice). Both are summery and contain generous amounts of alcohol. They're sweet but not excessively so and manage to maintain their minty freshness.

And now I've got another place to go when I'm craving a different take on the Cuban cocktail my friend so talentedly—yet traditionally—whips up.

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, from 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 5 p.m. to close. Specials include $4 Mojitos ($16 for a pitcher) and martinis, as well as $3 beer and house wine.

1424 Market St., 303-825-6968