Mint juleps aren’t for Derby anymore! Don’t you just love a mint julep? Not the ones they serve in masses at the track, but the real, homemade type. I love a good mint julep and they are so easy to make. I wanted to share my version of a summertime strawberry mint julep.
You have to start with the real deal, which is homemade simple syrup. Don’t be scared, it’s not hard. And if you make a batch of it, it will last several weeks. Or, at least until you run out of bourbon!
The recipe for simple syrup is 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar and a sprig of fresh mint leaves. Tear the leaves off of the stim, but don’t tear the leaves. You will be fishing those out as the syrup cools.
Boil the mixture until the sugar is dissolved. Should be about 3 minutes. While cooling remove the mint leaves. Let cool completely then put in a storage container ( I use an olive oil dispenser). You can keep it in the refrigerator for about a month. Ok, so now you have your base. Here’s the recipe:
- 2 parts Bourbon (use a middle of the road bourbon, you don’t have to use Pappy)
- 1/2 part simple syrup
- 1/2 part lemon juice
- several strawberries
- a fresh sprig of mint
Place your strawberries in a glass and be sure to muddle them until they have broken up. Add all ingredients, including ice to the shaker and shake, shake, shake. Pour into a julep cup, Moscow Mule cup or a highball glass. Garnish with the fresh mint.
Cheers! xoxo
