The Honey Mint Julep is a perfect cocktail for a hot summer day at the races. The minty flavor really freshens up the drink and melds perfectly with the honey which brings out the sweater flavors in the whiskey.
What is a Julep?
A Julep is a cocktail consisting of a base liquor and sugar or some form of sweetener poured over crushed ice. The most well known is the mint julep.
Origins
The term Julep comes from the Spanish “julepe” which means rosewater. Originally Juleps were used for medicine to help with the poor taste and only had a small amount of alcohol. The Mint Julep made with bourbon became very popular in Virginia and eventually became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938.
INGREDIENTS
- Bourbon/Whiskey
- Honey
- Mint Leaves
Equipment
- Shaker Tin
- Tin Cup/Rocks Glass
- Hawthorne Strainer
- Pot/Pan
Instruction Overview
- Grab a pot and pour honey in.
- Heat up honey and add mint leaves for a few moments then let cool.
- Grab shaker and put all ingredients in and Shake.
- Strain into glass and enjoy.
FAQ
I prefer the honey but simple syrup is a good substitute. It brings a more simple sweet flavor then the honey.
Spearmint is the traditional type of mint used.
Whiskey is a perfect substitute since technically Bourbon is whiskey.
The Olive Twist
The sweetness and mint blend is what comes through on the Honey Mint Julep. One of the best ways to alter the Julep is changing out the mint. You could use a citrus type mint or a chocolate mint and the flavor profile with change. You can change in simple syrup instead of the honey to get a less complex sweet flavor. Messing with the liquor can really brighten this drink especially with something like Gin or Vodka. Both will make it even lighter and more refreshing.
Honey Mint Julep
Equipment
- 1 Shaker Tin
- 1 Tin Cup
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Pot
Ingredients
- 8 leaves mint
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 ounce Honey Mint Syrup
- 3 ounces Bourbon
Instructions
- Grab a pot and add honey and water.
- Heat on medium-high heat for a couple of minutes while constantly stirring until honey dissolves.
- Add mint leaves and let cool for an hour or more.
- Grab tin cup or a rocks glass and add crushed ice.
- Grab shaker and add ice plus bourbon and honey syrup.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into tin cup.
- Add a mint leaf to garnish and enjoy.