How to Make The Perfect Mint Julep

The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, but you don't have to be betting on the ponies to enjoy the bourbon cocktail. The mint julep is a refreshing alcoholic drink that tastes wonderful especially during the hot summer months. Enjoy this mint julep recipe. Cheers!

Things You'll Need

• Bourbon whiskey
• Fresh mint
• Powdered sugar
• Water
• Ice
• Mint julep cup or Collins glass

Instructions

1. What some people disagree on when mixing their mint juleps is how to get the sugar into the drink. The first mint julep recipe calls for muddling a few washed and dry mint leaves, 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar and a sprinkle of water in the bottom of your official Derby mint julep cup or glass. Muddling means to combine ingredients by mashing them together and a traditional muddler looks something like a baseball bat, wood with a flattened surface as its end.

2. Once you've muddled the mint and sugar, what should be left with a greenish paste that still has some remnants of the mint leaves left in it. Now add ice so it fills up a little over half the glass.

3. Add bourbon liquor to fill up the rest of the mint julep cup. Top with a spurt of water, if so desired, to take the bite off.

4. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve with a straw so the drinker can get to the sugary goodness. Drink up!

5. The other mint julep recipe involves creating a simple syrup as a sugar base. Boil water in a pan on the stove and then add an equal part of sugar. When the sugar dissolves and creates the syrup, remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool. Bottle the syrup up and store in the refrigerator. The syrup for your mint juleps should keep for a couple of weeks.

6. The rest of the steps are similar. Crush up mint in the bottom of the glass and add the rest of the ingredients, including one teaspoon of simple syrup.