Classic Mint Julep According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, mint juleps were originally made with cognac. Bourbon was probably adopted as a substitute by Southerners after the Civil War. See the recipe for the Mint Julep » Back to Juleps for the Kentucky Derby ». Andr¿ Baranowski
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According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, mint juleps were originally made with cognac. Bourbon was probably adopted as a substitute by Southerners after the Civil War.

Mint Julep Mint Julep
The julep is the ultimate sultry-weather cooler.
Yield: makes 1 Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. superfine sugar
  • 10 spearmint leaves, plus extra for garnish
  • 1-2 tbsp. simple syrup
  • 1⁄2 cup Kentucky bourbon

Instructions

  1. Put sugar on a plate. Moisten the rim of a glass (if you have a silver julep cup, that’s even better) with a damp towel. Press rim of glass into some of the sugar to coat.
  2. Put leaves and simple syrup into glass. Crush leaves very gently with a pestle, just enough to bruise them. Fill to the brim with crushed ice, then pour in bourbon to cover ice. Stir one turn with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a leafy sprig of spearmint.

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