A perfect mint julep recipe for Derby Weekend
It’s Derby Weekend, so it’s time to don the seeksucker suits, find your fancy hats and sip on the traditional cocktail of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derbythe mint julep.
The julep has been part of been part of the Kentucky racing tradition since the 19th century, when jockey clubs began awarding sterling silver julep cups as trophies. It became the official Derby cocktail in 1939. You might think a cocktail featuring bourbon, the Bluegrass State’s most recognizable (and celebrated) contribution to the world of fine spirits, has decidedly Southern roots, but juleps were first introduced for medicinal purposesnamely, the treatment of nausea and stomach distress as a digestif.
In its most basic form, the julep is a cocktail built around a single spirit, sugar and water (in the form of simple syrup) and may be flavored with freshly muddled herbs. Like so many cocktails, the simplicity is deceivingthere are still a few things you can get wrong and wind up with a less-than-tasty libation.
The Classic Mint Julep
2 ounces bourbon or rye, your choice.
I like a spicier whiskey, so rye is often my first choice. Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville, VA makes an exception rye whiskey, distilled from rye grown on their farm. For a PA brand, Pittsburgh’s Wigle is delicious, complex and full of single-origin grain.
If you prefer sweeter, more well rounded bourbons, Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage is another favorite of mine. I consider it to be my sleeper choice in bourbons, standing up to virtually every small-batch bourbon on the market today for a fraction of the price.
If you want to experiment, an aged amber or dark rum can be substituted for the whiskey, but since it’s Derby Weekend, stick with the classic.
Simple syrup, to taste. A half ounce is a good place to start and you can adjust as necessary. To make simple syrup, simmer equal parts sugar and water until the sugar fully dissolves and cool. Store in the refrigerator in a squeeze bottle.
Mint leaves, five to six.
To assemble your julep, begin with a highball glass. You’ll want this well-chilled, so prep the glass with ice a bit before making your cocktail. Yes, the silver julep cup is the traditional serving vessel, but they’re pricy
Add five to six fresh mint leaves (the more tender, the better) and simple syrup. Mint grows exceptionally well in this part of Pennsylvania, so it’s easy to plant a container full of the stuff and pinch off leaves as you need them for recipes, culinary and libation alike.
Muddle the mint lightlyand I mean lightlyinto the simple syrup. You’re aiming to release the oils into the simple syrup. Over-muddling fresh herbs can make them bitter, so keep a light touch.
Add two ounces of bourbon or rye.
Fill the glass with crushed iceas fine as you can get it. Pile the ice high above the rim of the glass. Remember - this is a warm weather cocktail, so you want it cold and refreshing.
Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.