Happy Wednesday y’all, today we’re talking all about the Mint Julep! I was going through pictures recently and came across this one from last June when I lucked out with the opportunity to attend the Royal Ascot horse races in England just before we moved back to the US. It was an amazing experience, everyone was so dressed up with ladies in their hats and fascinators and the gentlemen in their top hats. We drank champagne and even got to see the Queen! It was probably one of my favorite experiences of our year abroad!
The entire experience made me very curious about the races here in the States, I remember my mother telling me how much she enjoyed attending the Kentucky Derby when I was a kid. This year, while I can’t attend the races in person, I decided to start hosting a Derby party of my own, right here at home, and obviously, you can’t have a Derby party without a classic Mint Julep cocktail!
I have to admit, while I am a huge bourbon fan I had been neglecting it in my cocktail repertoire until recently. Then one evening my husband was joking around with me about a bartending class he took in college and made me an Old Fashioned cocktail to prove his point and I was instantly reminded how much I love a nice bourbon cocktail. It didn’t take long for me to raid my garden for some mint leaves and whip up this easy Mint Julep cocktail to enjoy on a warm spring evening on the back porch!
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PinDescription
The Mint Julep is the classic bourbon cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. It is very easy to make and a sophisticated cocktail to add to your bar menu when entertaining!
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves plus sprig for garnish
- 1.5 teaspoons fine sugar (or 1 teaspoon low carb agave syrup)
- splash soda water
- 2.5 ounces Kentucky Bourbon
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker muddle (crush) mint leaves and sugar together until leaves start to break down. Add bourbon and shake well. Strain into a mint julep cup or old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of soda water, stir and garnish with additional mint if desired.
Keywords: mint julep
I’m eating low carb right now so if you want a low carb version of this cocktail substitute Agave Five or a sugar-free syrup instead of sugar. Right now I’m making this with Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon but Knob Creek and Maker’s Mark are two other favorites of mine lately.
Do you enjoy a mint julep? I don’t know why we don’t drink them more, especially this time of year!
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Melissa
my favorite summer drink!
★★★★★