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Chef Don's
Favorite Drink Recipes
Perfect Mint Julep
Makes 1 Pitcher
4 cups Bourbon
2 bunches Fresh Mint
1 cup Distilled Water
1 cup Granulated Sugar
Powdered Sugar
To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint
leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon.
Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in
paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip
the bundle again and repeat the process several times.
To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar
and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve
sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.
To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon
into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup
to the bourbon.
Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time
to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you
must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking
for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you
think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter
bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.
To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver
mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and
then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then,
insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so
the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.
When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add
a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.
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