Mint Julep

The Mint Julep is one of those grand old drinks that everyone has heard of, but it seems few have ever ordered them. To experience it properly, you really do need to have it in a classic mint julep cup, shiney silver, coated with a thin film of ice, and piled high with finely crushed ice. On a hot summer day, when all of your chores are done, it's hard to imagine anything better. The special silver julep cups can be a little trickey to find, but you can find them CocktailKingdom.com, Kegworks.com or at SilverSuperStore.com where they have a very nice selection and a great price.

I would be greatly remiss if I didn't include a link here to this wonderful video of Chris McMillian making a Mint Julep when he worked at the Library Bar in New Orleans. He has now opened “Revel Café & Bar,” where you can regularly find him mixing up wonderful drinks.

Mint Julep

2 ounces bourbon whiskey
4 whole sprigs mint
2 teaspoons sugar

Garnish: Mint sprigs dusted with powdered sugar.

Muddle in a cocktail shaker until the sugar is dissolved and the mint is blended in. Add ice, and then shake well. Strain into a glass filled with shaved ice.

This is the fairly quick & easy way to make one. If you want to go all out, you would muddle the mint and sugar in your silver julep cup, add some finely curshed ice, and then your bourbon. Stir well to chill and cover the glass with frost, then add more ice to mound it up in the glass, and garnish with several sprigs of mint, and a dusting of powdered sugar.