Though yhe story of the Bloody Mojito in Passion’s creation may have been forgotten during the turn over of bar staff, one thing about the pink cocktail’s appeal remains constant, according to Liquid’s chief bartender. “The ladies love it,” Nhem Saror says.

“I think they like it because it looks nice. It has a soft pink colour with bits of passion fruit and mint in it,” he explains. “Also, it’s not too strong and it has a smooth natural sweetness to it. It’s definitely the most popular cocktail on the menu.”

With a wooden pestle, Nhem Saror deftly crushes together one cut-up lime, fresh mint leaves and passion fruit puree. Immediately, the scent of passion fruit wafts through the air. “We have a lot of passion,” Nhem Saror says with a sly smile. “It’s fragrant and tastes good. Foreigners like it more than Cambodians.”

After the crushing, ice, rum and other ingredients are added, and the final mix presented in a tall glass with a swivel stick.  

The unlikely coupling of mint and fresh passion blend harmoniously, neither overpowering the other in strength of flavour. The cocktail is all too easy to drink, its sweetness and freshness gently masking the potency of the rum.   

Mojitoites might argue the drink has too much sweetness and not enough sourness. The most dogmatic might regard the Bloody Mojito in Passion as heresy. But for those who willing to veer off script, it offers a flavourful and exotic interpretation of the tropical classic.

“Tourists want to try it because it’s different, they haven’t seen it before,” Nhem Saror says.  

Cost: US$3.50, Happy hour US$3.00.

Ingredients: Havanna club, lime, ginger ale, fresh mint leaves, passion fruit, grenadine syrup, sugar.

Address: #3B St 278.