Attention grocery buyers: In case you haven’t noticed, limes are about as lucrative and in-demand as an eight ball of coke these days. As prices soar to over a dollar per fruit, in many cases the Mexican drug cartels are as much to blame as the huanglongling tree worm infestation and drought.

Prices have skyrocketed more than 400 per cent over the past year. A $15 or $20 dollar case (40-lbs) can now cost upwards of $100, according to a Fortune report. The Knights Templar cartel operating out of Michoacána have taken control of the lucrative export, and they’re souring the price of your mojito in the worst kind of way.

It’s an inopportune time for such pricey citrus. Summer weather is upon us and the time is ripe for micheladas and margaritas. If you’re not so down with splurging to get your sip on, here are a few alternatives to your favourite lime cocktails that will keep you swirling through the summer months…

Yuzu Mojito
Yuzu may resemble a small grapefruit, and often doesn’t turn green (though it can), but its tartness and undertones of mandarin orange make for a delicious and aromatic alternative to lime. This recipe for a yuzu mojito from Foodily is pretty simple and entirely refreshing.

Grapefruit Margarita
Speaking of grapefruit, it’s another tasty citrus alternative that will add a new dimension to your typical lime-based cocktail. Dress up a boozy grapefruit margarita (1.5oz tequila, 1.5oz triple sec, 2.5oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice) with a candied grapefruit wedge and a sugar rim. In the event you don’t want to do it yourself, I tried the Pink Blossom over at SHIBUI the other day – worth it.

Meyer Lemon Mule
The typical Moscow Mule plays zesty lime juice against spicy ginger beer – don’t be scant on the vodka and ice. This iteration of the classic cocktail is all you’ll need to waste the poolside afternoon away, while getting wasted in the process.

Mai Tai
The building of a Mai Tai has taken on many forms over the years. The original 1944 recipe calls for fresh lime juice (you could just swap that out for lemon), but for O’Sheas Famous Mai Tai add vodka, pineapple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and all natural 7-Up to the shaker instead.

With the lime shortage, what are your favourite lime-cocktail alternatives? Share them with us in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.

Jason Finestone

A Toronto based food fiend and travel nut with a lust for all things tasty. If his liver can process it (somewhat) then he’s likely game to give it a go. His wanderlust spirit has taken him all over the globe, living in 6 different countries from Canada to the US, South Korea to Europe. Along the way he’s developed a propensity for irreverent parlance and inhibition-less adventure. “If meat is king then dumplings are queen — I am a prince of noodle soups and a duke of hard drink — street food is life.”