With
Derby Day racing round the bend and summer hot on its tail, it's mint julep time. Considering the current rage for
infusing one's booze, it's only natural to combine
bourbon with mint before the two even hit a glass.
Some folks just toss the two together, steeping a few handfuls of leaves in a glass jar. Here's a slightly more precise recipe: Combine about 2 cups loosely packed mint leaves with 3 cups of bourbon, cap tightly and let sit for 4 to 5 days. If short on time, steep overnight (though another cupful of leaves will be necessary -- perhaps more if a very minty taste is desired). Once the liquor is infused, it's a quick jump to
mint julep time: Just mix with simple syrup and pour over crushed ice, no messy muddling required. Some prefer to combine liquor, mint and sugar for an all-in-one infusion, but this mint-only rendition allows more flexibility for various levels of sweet tooths. The concoction also makes for a fine
Jack n' Ginger (be wary of bourbon
purists!), or an excellent Manhattan.
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Photo: boboroshi, Flickr
