The Horses are at the Gate

Derby Day!

Okay, so I'm not much of a horse racing fan. But. I like horses. And Mint Juleps. And Kentucky Bourbon.

Some horses are mudders, "they love the slop," and if you like Mint Juleps, you are a mudder, or at least a muddler, too!

Classic Mint Julep
I highly recommend using Kentucky bourbon*, not just for authenticity, but for distinct Kentucky flavor that blends well with mint. Jim Beam imparts the flavor most often associated with Mint Juleps.

What you'll need:
4 Fresh Mint Sprigs
2 1/2 oz. Kentucky Bourbon
1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
2 tsp. Water 
Ice
Collins glass


How you'll mix it:
Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a Collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and pour bourbon over ice. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw and mint leaf garnish

**You'll need a muddler to muddle! A muddler and rocks glass are like a mortar and pestle. The muddler is a blunt wood or stainless baseball bat shaped bar tool. It's often included in barware sets and people often don't know what they are or why it came with their cocktail shaker. It's most often used to make a mash comprised of sugar or bitters with limes, lemons or mint leaves. Place the ingredients to be muddled in the bottom of a rocks glass. Gently mash the ingredients with the rounded end of the muddler just until combined/mixed. The goal is to release the aroma of the fruit or mint and soften it's bite with sugar. Then pour in the liquid ingredients. Voila! Muddled and sipped! 


Overnight Mint Julep (no muddling required)
What you'll need:
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Water
8 Fresh Mint Sprigs Finely Chopped  (Use only the leaves, no stems)
1 quart Kentucky Bourbon
Fresh mint sprigs for garnish
Collins glass

How you'll build it:
Combine water, sugar, chopped mint leaves and bourbon in a glass pitcher, stir until sugar dissolves. Cover and let stand 4 -6 hours, or over night.  To serve, strain the bourbon-syrup mixture into a large pitcher, discarding the chopped mint. Fill glasses with cracked ice; add bourbon mixture, and garnish with mint sprigs and a straw.

*Kentucky Bourbon brands:
There are loads of Kentucky Bourbons, some of the small, local distilleries on the Bourbon Trail offer unique flavors that can only originate in Kentucky. Jim Beam is the "easiest" bourbon of choice for Mint Juleps if you live outside the state of Kentucky. It also has the classic flavor most associated with Mint Juleps. 
Jim Beam
Maker's Mark
Four Roses
Wild Turkey
Woodford Reserve