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Texana
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Mint Julep - The Southern Drink of Choiceby Trish BalesAs we all know, it's hot in Texas in the summertime -- very hot. It can be hard to get motivated to do anything outside other than walking (very quickly) from the house to the car. This heat is something we southerners are accustomed to, however, and many years ago, a refreshing drink, supposedly of Arabian origin, was adopted as "the quintessential southern drink" in the United States -- the Mint Julep. A Mint Julep is more than just a deliciously refreshing drink. It symbolizes hospitality, something we southerners are known for. In East Texas, people place bundles of mint in their doorways to welcome guests. In ancient Greece, mint leaves were crushed and rubbed on the table to show hospitality to visitors. Worldwide, and in many cultures, displaying or serving mint in one shape or form is considered to be a welcome sign.
Groovy Cocktail Shakers Finally, in Brazil, mint is crushed with turbino sugar in a pestal and mixed with the Brazilian sugar-cane liqueur, cachaa, for a delicious cocktail called a Caipirinha. There is so much sugar and mint in this drink that you're chewing it by the time you get half way through. Fortunately, mint is easy to grow. It is happy growing in the sun or partial shade and likes to be kept fairly moist. It will grow well in either a pot or in the ground, and it comes in many different varieties such as chocolate, pineapple, and the classic spearmint and peppermint. The classic varieties are traditionally used for the mint julep drink but all types of mint would make an interesting Mint Julep cocktail. At last, we arrive at the 'good herb's' use in cocktails. I'm not going to get into who should take credit for making the mint julep so famous, but I will mention The Kentucky Derby's tradition of serving this drink at its race events in a fancy, silver cup. In Louisiana, the cocktail is sipped out on the front porch in the dead heat of summer in a small, crystal glass, with or without a stem. In East Texas, they don't care much what they drink a mint julep in-silver, crystal or just plain old glass, as long as there is plenty of ice. Crushed ice is preferred. To make a spectacular mint julep it is important that the drink is really cold. A frosted glass would be most welcome, but if that isn't possible, it can be made up for with an abundance of crushed ice. Some don't realize that advance preparation is needed in mixing up a mint julep. It begins with making syrup by boiling water and sugar together for 5 minutes. After the sugar is completely dissolved, the liquid needs to be cooled, placed in a covered container with 6 to 8 bruised mint springs, and then refrigerated overnight. Because of the need for this advance preparation, mint juleps cannot be whipped up on the spur of the moment. But, please believe me, they are worth planning for when you are entertaining guests.
My second choice would be Jim Beam, another not-too-sweet Bourbon good for mixing with a sweet cocktail. It's also a little less expensive than Maker's Mark and is easy to find at any liquor store. You may prefer to experiment with different Bourbons to determine which is the best for mixing with your mint cocktail. Ingredients Needed:
Make a julep by filling a julep cup or glass with crushed ice, then adding 1 tablespoon of mint syrup and 2 ounces of bourbon. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost outside of cup or glass. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig. Extra Tips:
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