Mint Julep
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Maker’s Mark Bourbon
- 6 leaves fresh mint
- 1⁄2 oz. simple syrup
- Crushed ice to fill
- Confectioner’s sugar to garnish
Procedure:
In a rocks glass, lightly tap the mint leaves with simple syrup (not an aggressive muddle).
- Fill with crushed ice, then pour 2 ounces of bourbon.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves on top and then sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.
Keep in mind that it’s important to use crushed ice, so that it starts to melt and mellows out the bourbon. Since the drink doesn’t have any mixer ingredients, the ice melt is what makes it palatable right away. You’ll also want to be very gentle with the mint leaves, not a brutal muddling like in a mojito that will overpower the quality bourbon you’re using. Finally, the drink is traditionally served in an ice cold silver cup – but a fun substitute is to use metal straws that give you the same frosty sensation without breaking the budget on a once-a-year glass.