The Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Done 2 Ways: Proper and with a Blackberry Twist

Kentucky Bourbon. Sometimes, it's just what the doctor ordered. Seriously though, there are those seldom eves when I feel like sipping on a "man's drink." On these occasions, I generally call upon my lovely husband (still getting used to saying that) to whip me up an Old Fashioned. He normally obliges, as I think it's one of the few "kitchen" tasks he actually enjoys.

I keep saying I'm going to go to the Kentucky Derby one of these years. But truthfully, I'm kinda torn on the whole thing. You see, I come from a long-line of Southern heritage and my dear uncle has bred and raced horses for as long as I can remember. In fact, he currently lives in Louisville, just a hop, jump, and skip away from Churchill Downs. I've also forever fancied the idea of wearing my Sunday's best complete with a giant hat and a Mint Julep in my hand.

But here's where the problem lies...I'm a die-hard animal lover. And while yes, I still eat meat, there are some animal "practices" that I'm not exactly keen on. One of those being horse racing.

So there you have it. What's a girl to do? I guess she can just wear a huge floppy hat and drink Mint Juleps on the sunny back porch of her Californian home. Because Mint Juleps are pretty darn tasty no matter where you drink 'em.

Today I'm bringing you two recipes for the classic Southern cocktail. The first is simply a Mint Julep done proper - with sugar, mint, and Kentucky Bourbon. The second is a delightful twist on the libation. An addition of muddled blackberries adds sweetness and some extra Southern flair. Make one or make both this Saturday and then be sure to raise that silver cup to all those amazing horses running with all their beautiful might.

***Side note: Both glasses I used for my juleps have some special significance. The silver cup, which isn't a true julep cup, was randomly purchased by my mom when we were vacationing in Boston 5 years ago. We were perusing the quaint neighborhood streets of Salem when we spotted a tiny yard sale. She spotted the cup, called it interesting, and bought it without any hesitation. My mom was far from a pack rat, so this was especially unusual for her. But hey, makes for a cute memory of the woman I've loved most.

The "red neck wine glass" is part of a set that I bought for myself and my bridesmaids to use on my wedding day. While my wedding wasn't country, I suppose it was pretty Southern so it only seemed right that we sip our mimosas (to calm the nerves) from these lovely gems. While you can't see the inscription in these photos, I had each glass personalized with the girls' names. 

Proper Mint Julep

Ingredients:

3 ounces Kentucky Bourbon

1-2 ounces Simply Syrup (depending how sweet you like it)

6 mint leaves

Crushed Ice

Directions:

1) Run soda water over the exterior of a silver cup, double Old-Fashioned glass, or mason jar. Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from freezer just before preparing the julep.

2) Place mint leaves at the bottom of the glass along with 1/2 ounce of simple syrup. Lightly muddle. Do NOT beat up your mint. This will make it bitter. I gently press on it 2-3 times. Add crushed ice on top until it's almost overflowing from the cup

***If your ice machine doesn't crush well, you can throw ice in a large bowl and crush some more with mallet. It's important to get it as finely crushed as possible.

3) Pour Bourbon on top. Add another 1/2 ounce (or full ounce if you want it sweet) simple syrup. Garnish with mint bouquet. 

4) Enjoy!!!

Blackberry Mint Julep

Ingredients:

3 ounces Kentucky Bourbon

1-2 ounces Simply Syrup (depending how sweet you like it)

6 mint leaves

8 fresh blackberries

Crushed Ice

Directions:

1) Run soda water over the exterior of a silver cup, double Old-Fashioned glass, or mason jar. Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from freezer just before preparing the julep.

2) Place blackberried at the bottom of the glass and muddle until broken up and slightly juiced. Then, add the mint leaves along with 1/2 ounce of simple syrup. Lightly muddle. Do NOT beat up your mint. This will make it bitter. I gently press on it 2-3 times. Add crushed ice on top until it's almost overflowing from the cup

***If your ice machine doesn't crush well, you can throw ice in a large bowl and crush some more with mallet. It's important to get it as finely crushed as possible.

3) Pour Bourbon on top. Add another 1/2 ounce (or full ounce if you want it sweet) simple syrup. Garnish with mint bouquet. 

4) Enjoy!!!