Mint Julep

To contact us Click HERE
I'll Have Another may have retired before achieving the Triple Crown, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't sip a delicious mint julep while watching the Belmont.
I've sampled many mint julep recipes and never enjoyed one of them until I visited Chapeze House in Bardstown, Kentucky. There, I learned some tricks, starting with, don't muddle the mint! Doing so makes it bitter and turns it brown, which is not attractive.

Here's my take on the recipe demonstrated by Kentucky Colonel Michael Masters:

Mint Simple Syrup
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
large handful (approx. 1 cup) of mint, washed
Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring to make sure sugar dissolves into water. Boil briefly, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add the washed mint, tearing leaves just prior to dropping them in. Steep the mint 15-30 minutes. Strain out mint while transferring syrup to a glass container. Refrigerate.

NOTE: Add 1 teaspoon vodka after transferring the syrup into the glass container if you plan to keep the syrup longer than a week.

Mint Julep
2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. mint simple syrup
Shake with ice. Strain and pour over a rocks glass that's been filled with ice (small cubes or crushed ice). Garnish with a mint sprig and a dash of powdered sugar.

TIP: Slap the mint sprig between your hands to bring out its aroma just prior to placing it in the glass.

Bottom Line: Finish the cocktail and you'll find yourself saying, I'll Have Another.