This drink takes a while to prepare, about 24 hours if you want it to taste just right.
Ingredients (as seen in Southern Living, this is for 1 julep)
- 3 fresh mint leaves
- Crushed ice
- 1 ½ to 2 table spoons of bourbon (more can obviously be added)
- 1 fresh mint spring
- 1 cocktail straw
- 1 fresh mint spring
- Powdered sugar (optional, gives it a little bit of a sweeter taste)
- Mint Simple syrup (this needs to be made)
The mint simple syrup is easy to make – all you need is 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water, and 10-12 fresh mint sprigs. You use a medium saucepan to bring the water and sugar to a boil, make sure you stir for about 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves, add the mint and let it cool. Once it has cooled down, pour it into a glass jar and let it chill for 24 hours. When you remove it from the fridge make sure you discard the mint. (This only makes 2 cups)
So now on to the actual drink, take the mint leaves and the simple syrup and put it into a chilled julep cup (traditionally a silver cup) and press the mint leaves against the cup with the back of a spoon. Add crushed ice and pour in the bourbon. Use the straw to stir and place a mint sprig in for extra flavor and decoration. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you like your drinks extra sweet.
Southern living used Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Bourbon, but any Kentucky style bourbon is pretty alright with me, especially Maker’s Mark. Enjoy!
