Cheers! What to drink this weekend: The Mint Julep.
Every Friday, the editors of LOVE& share what they will be imbibing over the weekend. From fancy-schmancy seasonal specialties to the easiest cocktail hacks, we’ve got you covered. Refresh your face with The Mint Julep. Great for Mother’s Day Brunch, The Kentucky Derby and your perfect spring weekend.
The Mint Julep is a cocktail steeped in the history of the deep south where bourbon, sugar and mint abound. A Julep can be made using any spirit and sugar, really, but in the case of the Mint Julep it’s bourbon, sugar, mint and ice.
Being from the south, the Mint Julep has also held a long connection to the Kentucky Derby – a decadent event where people in funny hats get smashed alongside a horse race. At one time, the Mint Julep was prescribed as an antidote to nausea, mostly due to the perceived healing power of bourbon. But for anyone who has had more than a few under the hot Kentucky sun, it’s pretty obvious that there’s a limit to those health benefits. Regardless, they’re a great way to spend an afternoon hydrating and losing your shirt on a horse race.
This recipe is adapted Cooking to Get Laid by Adrien Sala, all-around bon vivant and our new blogging partner at The Gentleman’s Kitchen.
The Mint Julep
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces bourbon
A small handful of fresh mint
1 raw sugar cube (or simple syrup)
1 ounce of water
Crushed ice
METHOD
Fill a julep glass with crushed ice
In a cocktail shaker, add the sugar cube and a half ounce of bourbon and let it soak for a minute
Crush the sugar with a muddler, then add the mint, the rest of the bourbon a tablespoon of water and muddle everything together
Pour muddled mixture over the crushed ice, stir it all together, add a couple sprigs of mint and serve
*Note: a julep glass is typically made of copper or silver and is ideal for a frosty, crushed ice cocktail – but don’t sweat it if you don’t have one. Just use a tumbler and all will be well.
