Today is the official day of summer. Today we’re kicking off the season with a backyard barbecue and I’m hoping to enjoy one of many long evenings of brilliant sunsets setting the night sky ablaze while sipping on a mint julep. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
Mint juleps are considered a Southern cocktail beverage made from bourbon, mint, sugar and water. It is a traditional drink often served at the Kentucky Derby in a tall glass or a pewter julep cup.
What I enjoy most about this beverage is the simplicity of it. We have mint growing like weeds in our backyard. So having all the ingredients readily available makes it very easy to prepare this cocktail on a hot summer day. Dissolving sugar and water into a simple syrup is the best way to prepare this drink. I like to take it one step further by steeping mint leaves in the syrup instead of muddling the mint leaves with ice. The end result is a sweet, refreshing, and strong cocktail! [click to continue…]
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