Mint Julep – A Beautiful Mess

The Mint Julep is a flavorful bourbon cocktail made with mint leaves, bourbon, syrup, and bitters. It’s the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. This famous recipe is easy to make at home.

Other Cocktails: Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Aviation, Negroni, Last Word, Paper Plane, Boilermaker, Mojito.

Mint Julep Ingredients

• Fresh mint leaves – A mint julep requires fresh mint sprigs, which not only add flavor to the cocktail but can also be used to garnish the finished drink.
• Bourbon – Choose a quality bourbon that will complement this spirit-focused drink.
• Simple syrup – You can use store-bought syrup or make your own using our easy recipe.
• Bitters – Angostura bitters is an optional addition to this classic drink.
• ice – Crushed or pebble ice works best with this drink. For the right experience, you’ll need smaller ice cubes, larger ice cubes won’t do.

The mint julep is traditionally Julep CupThese cups are traditionally made of silver. Of course, you can also use a rocks glass for the mint julep. These silver cups There is a special elegance to it and it is well known as part of the experience.

Instructions

Place the syrup and a few mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Stir gently to release the minty aroma.

Add bourbon and ice to a shaker and shake for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into a glass filled with ice and garnish with fresh mint.

What does a Mint Julep taste like?

The Mint Julep tastes like a rich, sweet bourbon drink. It’s similar to an Old Fashioned or a Vieux Carré, and is a sweet, rich, bourbon-flavored recipe. The Mint Julep has a strong minty taste and a unique, refreshing flavor. If you like bourbon, sweet drinks, and mint, you’ll love the Mint Julep.

history

The Mint Julep is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. The cocktail was first recorded in the 18th century by John Davis in his 1803 book “A Voyage Through America.” He wrote that Virginians would drink a Mint Julep in the morning. The first juleps were likely made with cognac or brandy.

Each year, tens of thousands of Mint Juleps are served at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and to Derby attendees around the world. In addition to being the perfect drink for Derby Day, the Mint Julep is also a popular summer drink, perfect for sipping on your front porch while watching the fireflies.

What’s the best bourbon for a mint julep?

While there’s certainly no right choice, we recommend using the best quality bourbon you have for this cocktail. It’s best to use one that’s meant to be drunk on its own, as the bourbon’s flavor will shine through. Bonus points if you choose a Kentucky bourbon.

Tips on how to make it

• confusion – Using a muddler to stir the mint leaves will infuse the cocktail with minty essence and flavor. Stirring in the base of a cocktail shaker or julep cup will bring out the most mint essence.
• Julep Cup – A Mint Julep can be enjoyed in any short glass, but it tastes even better in a silver julep cup. Just as Moscow Mules are served in copper mugs, silver julep cups have become popular for this recipe.
• Peppermint vs. Spearmint – There are many different kinds of mint, but I have heard that spearmint is preferred if you have access to more than one. If you have access to both, do an A/B comparison and let me know which one you like better. There are many other kinds of mint, such as apple mint, chocolate mint, strawberry mint, etc. If you would like to join us on this journey for research purposes, we are here to support you.
• Simple syrup substitute – If you like, you can use honey syrup or mint syrup to vary it up a bit. You can also use maple syrup or agave syrup instead.

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