Summer Sips: Make Mine Mint

Just because the weather is warm doesn’t mean you have to put aside the bourbon. The Mint Julep is an iconic warm weather cocktail. It’s really nothing much more than mint and bourbon, oh and ice. The ice is crucial. It’s what makes a Mint Julep so damn good on a hot day.

And it is hot, isn’t it? So I am going to get right to the point today. You have stuff to do I know you do. You don’t need to be hanging around here. So grab a Mint Julep and get going. That’s what you came for right?

Was that direct enough? I wanted to offer that drink right away because it’s such an iconic cocktail there’s not really too much I can say about it without causing a ruckus. That’s because– like chili in Texas or pizza in Naples– there’s controversy surrounding just what constitutes a true and propah Julep. And I have opinions about that. You know I do. But it’s hot and I’m in no mood for all of that today. Because I know (I know) some people would never crush or muddle the mint in a propah Julep. It’s just not done that way in some parts of the south. But I like my mint crushed or muddled. So, there ya go– nuff said. I don’t plan to wade into any of that here. I’ll leave that to the fussbudgets.

Oh, but I do need to address one rule I have clearly broken. A propah Mint Julep should be served in a sterling silver tumbler. Preferably antique. Preferably passed done from your confederate grandma. That tumbler should be polished to its brightest sheen. Now I have the perfect tumblers (you know I do) in my cupboard just waiting to to take on that sheen and get filled to heaping with this icy, boozy combination. But I chose these silver-rimmed clear glasses instead. I did that because this is a blog and I wanted you to actually see the cocktail, not just the glass (duh). Also, I think the silver rim brings a little modernity to this traditional libation. Fussbudgets feel free to fuss away in the comments section. GREG