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Mint Juleps for Derby Day
Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2006/05/06 - 4:02pm.
It's Derby Day, and that means it's time for Mint Juleps. Here's our quick and easy sure-fire guaranteed to please and/or anesthetize recipe...
1. Cut some fresh sprigs of mint from the yard. (You do have fresh mint growing in the yard, right? Oh, you're not from the South? That's OK, you can buy some at the grocery store.) You need about eight or ten mint leaves per Julep, I like more, some like less.
2. Get you some good Kentucky Bourbon. Makers Mark, or better yet Wild Turkey 101. You could use Woodford Reserve or even Booker's, but some consider that a waste of Good Bourbon, which should be enjoyed straight up or on the rocks with no flavorings or other embellishments. It must be Genuine Kentucky Bourbon, not Tennessee Whiskey like Jack Daniels or George Dickel such as you would normally mix with Coca-Cola and whatnot. (Note: If you opt for a single-batch barrel-proof Kentucky Bourbon, you are on your own and we are not responsible for the outcome.)
3. Put the mint leaves in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add just enough Bourbon to cover. Add a tablespoon or so of 10X white confectioner's sugar to taste. Mash up real good with a wooden spoon until you get a green paste going. This will be the "Julep" part of your Mint Julep.
4. Pour in about 4 oz. plus or minus of proper Bourbon, stir. Let it sit a spell while you do the next step.
5. Fill a tall, thin (as in narrow diameter) cocktail glass (must be glass) with crushed ice all the way to the top. (Optionally, you can coat the rim with 10X confectioner's sugar first. The ladies seem to like this.)
6. Strain the Mint Julep slowly over the ice into the glass. Don't worry if you get some crushed mint leaves in there, it will just be more festive and the green stuff in your teeth will give your spouse and/or guests something to giggle about. Top with a small sprig of mint.
7. Here's the important part. Using your straw (you drink Mint Juleps through a straw), stir with a vigorous up and down and side to side motion until frost forms on the outside of the glass.
Enjoy! (Makes one Mint Julep.)
WARNING: These will sneak up on you. If you can drink more than one or two, you should update your will to donate your liver to medical science. Do not operate motor vehicles or heavy machinery. Not even lawn mowers or vacuum cleaners. Especially not power tools. Or ladders. Not safe for children, small pets, or women prone to the vapors. Void where prohibited. No warranty expressed or implied.
P.S. If you are a serious Mint Julep connoisseur, here are the ingredients for a Deluxe $1000 Mint Julep.
Submitted by Mike Wood (not verified) on Sat, 2006/05/06 - 10:45pm.
It is my understanding that Kentucky Bourbon whiskey has to have corn as the preponderant grain in the mash. I believe that Wild Turkey is in fact, rye whiskey. I wouldn't know since I drink only Tennessee whiskey made with the charcoal filtering process.
Submitted by oldhack (not verified) on Sat, 2006/05/06 - 11:43pm.
Wild Turkey does make a straight rye whiskey -- made with at least 51% rye grain -- but all its other standard bottlings are, indeeed, straight bourbon, with at least 51% corn in the mashbill.
Some argue that the proper way to enjoy a mint julep -- the ice is present only for quick cooling -- is not to sip through a straw, but to gulp the liquid portion of the drink from the glass through/around the ice. Personally, I enjoy it more this way -- I find sipping it too bitter.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/05/07 - 11:00am.
I'm an old barkeep with many a m/j under my belt and I can tell you that Jim Beam is as good a burbon as there is for all uses. Do a taste test(blind) and find out for yourself. Don't bet too much on it, though.
Submitted by Phelps (not verified) on Mon, 2006/05/08 - 1:50pm.
Blasphemy! Mint Juleps must not be served in glass except in the direst of emergencies (such as sudden thirt occuring out of the presence of a proper julep cup.) Whenever possible, use a proper julep cup.
Good point. I was going to mention that you could also use those colorful aluminum cups your Grandma used to have, but figured nobody would know what I was talking about.
Submitted by Bob Y. (not verified) on Mon, 2006/05/08 - 2:37pm.
I have had both spearmint and peppermint julips. Which is more correct? I slightly prefer the peppermint, but I was wondering about the traditional mint to use.
Old Whiskey River Brand Bourbon. If the Red-Headed Stranger puts his name on it, you can't go wrong.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
My mint's just now showing up. Perfect timing, I guess, but there's not a lot of it yet.
Maker's Mark seems to be fine enough for the purpose, though Wild Turkey 101 would indeed be nice.
My mint's just now showing up. Perfect timing, I guess
You have to wonder if that figures in to the timing of the Derby...
...for the bourbon and you have a decent mojito.
____________________________
Wasabi peas are people! They're people!
It is my understanding that Kentucky Bourbon whiskey has to have corn as the preponderant grain in the mash. I believe that Wild Turkey is in fact, rye whiskey. I wouldn't know since I drink only Tennessee whiskey made with the charcoal filtering process.
Wild Turkey does make a straight rye whiskey -- made with at least 51% rye grain -- but all its other standard bottlings are, indeeed, straight bourbon, with at least 51% corn in the mashbill.
Some argue that the proper way to enjoy a mint julep -- the ice is present only for quick cooling -- is not to sip through a straw, but to gulp the liquid portion of the drink from the glass through/around the ice. Personally, I enjoy it more this way -- I find sipping it too bitter.
My improvised mint juleps seem to have done the trick. I'll improve the concoction with your recipe in the near future.
The race was exciting. I love HDTV.
$1000 mint julep - that is insane - imported Morroccan mint - is the mint in KY not good enough??
Thanks for the recipe though. Why do you reckon it must not be Tennessee whiskey? Is it not sweet enough?
All I've got is Jack, single barrel bourbon and Scotch*, I'd have to go out and get some middling Ky according to this recipe.
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*mmm - thinking about it - that is really about all we have on hand, no food, just wine and whiskey. But we do have mint coming up in the back garden.
I'm an old barkeep with many a m/j under my belt and I can tell you that Jim Beam is as good a burbon as there is for all uses. Do a taste test(blind) and find out for yourself. Don't bet too much on it, though.
Joe
Blasphemy! Mint Juleps must not be served in glass except in the direst of emergencies (such as sudden thirt occuring out of the presence of a proper julep cup.) Whenever possible, use a proper julep cup.
Good point. I was going to mention that you could also use those colorful aluminum cups your Grandma used to have, but figured nobody would know what I was talking about.
I have had both spearmint and peppermint julips. Which is more correct? I slightly prefer the peppermint, but I was wondering about the traditional mint to use.
Thanks,
Bob Young
I believe the traditional recipe calls for spearmint. That's what I use anyway.
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