In honor of the Kentucky Derby, I present you with this delicious, refreshing, icy cold…Mint Julep Cocktail! Fresh mint, wee bit of sugar, a dose of bourbon and a generous splash of club soda! Stimulating and refreshing!
Mint Juleps are a longtime tradition for Derby goers, read this fun article on how the Mint Julep came to be the drink of the Kentucky Derby.
How to Make a Mint Julep
If desired, place your cocktail glasses in freezer (or your traditional silver cup) 20-30 minutes before serving so they are icy cold.
How Do you Muddle Mint for a Mint Julep
Assemble your drink by adding your mint leaves and your sugar to the cold glass.
Muddle your mint and your all natural sugar together.
What is muddling you ask? Different from meddling, you actually want someone to muddle for you! 🙂 It’s gently crushing the mint along with sugar using a muddler (or even the end of a rolling pin or thick wooden spoon should work). Just don’t maul it, this article is quite comical about what can happen if you over-muddle your mint.
Next pour in a dribble of bourbon, mixing with the minty sugar for a minute, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Pour in a scoop of crushed ice and then pour in the balance of your bourbon.
BAR TIP | No crushed ice? No problem, place ice cubes in a sturdy freezer baggie, I just used the bottom of a cast iron pan and crushed the heck out of it. Or you can place in your blender on the “chop” or “crush” function.
Fill the glass with crushed ice and top it off with club soda.
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Garnish with a few mint leaves and serve with a small stirring stick or or cocktail straw.
If you don’t like a strong julep, simply make it in a taller glass, adding more club soda. It is quite strong in a small glass, though not bad! If you want to be traditional, serve it in a chilled silver cup.
Or perhaps you’d like to try an Irish Mule, my take on an Irish Whiskey?
*This post is for adults 21 and older only, please drink responsibly.
Bourbon Inspired Recipes
- Kentucky Butter Cake
- Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- Blackberry Bourbon Moscow Mule
- Honey Bourbon Chicken
- Chocolate Bread Pudding
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Mint Julep | A Southern Cocktail
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Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- 1 ½ teaspoons superfine sugar such as Castor sugar
- 1.5 – 2.5 oz Bourbon Whiskey
- Club Soda
- Mint sprigs for garnish
- Crushed Ice
Instructions
- If desired, freeze glass(es) for 20-30 minutes prior to serving.
- Tear off 10 mint leaves and place in bottom of glass, add sugar and muddle gently.
- Just a few presses and twists should release the minty fragrance and oils, don’t overdo it.
- Pour in a tablespoon or so of the bourbon and mix gently to dissolve the sugar.
- Add a scoop of crushed ice, then the balance of bourbon.
- Top glass off with crushed ice and top with club soda.
- Garnish with sprig of mint and cocktail straw.
- Enjoy responsibly.
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