Many years ago I brought home my adorable Aussie-Lab puppy, and we bonded immediately. What didn’t quite click was her farm-given name of Greta. I figured dogs are “man’s best friend” and bourbon is a girl’s best friend, so put the two together, and she became the classic Kentucky Derby cocktail, Julep. (She even has an “M” pattern on her tummy, which makes me think she was always meant to be minty.)
Mint Julep Season
Mint Juleps are the drink to have come Derby time in May, but the combination merits a longer summertime run, especially when mint is rampant. It’s an icy, refreshing flavor made for grilled pairings, days by the pool, a beachy nightcap, or simply a sipper while watching the fireflies.
The classic mint julep muddles mint and sugar at the bottom of each cocktail glass before adding crushed ice and bourbon. Instead of muddling the mint, I like to make a batch of mint simple syrup with bourbon-barrel maple. It makes for a quick Mint Julep once the syrup is ready and waiting in your fridge.
For you gardeners, green thumbs, and farmers market fans, the simple syrup is a resourceful way to take advantage of mint while there’s a surplus and preserve that fresh flavor into the fall.
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Cheater Mint Juleps
- Yield: 1 Cocktail 1x
Description
The mint maple syrup makes this unlike any julep you’ve had before.
Ingredients
For the mint maple syrup:
- 3/4 cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- A large bunch of fresh mint
For the mint julep:
- Crushed ice
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz maple mint syrup, or more, to taste
- Fresh mint, to garnish
Instructions
For the syrup:
- Combine the water and maple syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, then simmer until combined.
- Remove from heat, and add the fresh mint. Cover and set aside to infuse for at least 30 minutes (I often leave mine in the refrigerator overnight for a really minty flavor).
- Strain the mint, and transfer the syrup to a glass jar, and store in the refrigerator.
For the cocktail:
- Fill a glass with crushed ice, then pour the bourbon and simple syrup over the ice. Top with fresh mint, and enjoy!
Recipe and Photography by Quelcy Kogel
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