I used to be so near naming this text “An Simple Mint Julep Recipe for When You Have a Ton of Mint and Don’t Know What to Do With It.” Let me inform you why. I’ve been touring not too long ago, and once I bought dwelling, I seen a flourishing new plant had sprouted in my entrance yard! On condition that I’ve put zero effort into landscaping and have no inexperienced thumb by any means, you possibly can think about my shock. I had found a brand-new cluster of vibrant inexperienced leaves proper by my entrance door.
It solely took inhaling the recent spring air to understand that this was truly a mint plant. And after inspecting its leaves extra intently, it was confirmed: I had over 40 sprigs of recent mint magically rising in my yard. Whereas I want this had been the case for my different favourite herbs like basil and cilantro, I used to be enthusiastic about this little present from nature—and I knew I needed to put it to good use. Cue the simple mint juleps!
Why mint juleps?
Because it seems, mint is definitely an invasive species. It may possibly rapidly take over your complete backyard if you happen to’re not cautious. I needed to take away your entire plant fairly rapidly to stop this. Naturally, that left me with extra mint on my fingers than I might deal with.
Mint has a wide range of makes use of from cooking to cocktails, however it doesn’t get simpler than a traditional mint julep. With the Kentucky Derby proper across the nook and the climate heating up in Austin, it appeared like the right time to combine up this straightforward mint julep recipe. So what’s the key to this well-known cocktail? For me, it was a number of crushed ice and a touch of honey. Learn on for the right way to make this traditional drink that’s as daring as it’s refreshing.
What are the substances in a mint julep?
A conventional mint julep consists of bourbon, easy syrup, and mint. Can it get a lot simpler than that? Whereas I went with store-bought easy syrup for ease, you may make your individual easy syrup by combining a cup of sugar with a cup of water and boiling the combination till the sugar dissolves. Because the drink was a bit stiff for me, I added a touch of honey to sweeten it a little bit extra.
What kind of bourbon is utilized in a mint julep?
The primary distinction between a mint julep and a mojito is the selection of alcohol. Whereas mojitos are rum-based, mint juleps comprise bourbon, a sort of whiskey. Any kind of bourbon works for this drink. Whereas it tends to be a tad sweeter than your standard whiskey, the smoky taste nonetheless dominates in a mint julep. Whether or not you’re a bourbon fan or not, be warned that this drink is just not for the faint-hearted!
Ideas for making a mint julep:
“Clap” the mint. When making your mint julep, do that earlier than including it to your cup. The movement releases the herb’s pure taste and can make a distinction within the drink’s style. I select to do that as a substitute of muddling the mint.
Go heavy on the crushed ice. The drink tends to mellow out because the ice melts, however you could possibly additionally add lime juice, membership soda, or glowing water to additional dilute the bourbon if you would like a lighter cocktail.
