It's Derby Time: How to Make Mint Juleps

Don't even think of celebrating the Kentucky Derby without this traditional cooler, the mint julep.

Photos: 2010 Kentucky Derby
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In general, "julep" refers to any sweet drink made with a mix of various liquors, water and sugar. The mint julep is made with plenty of fresh mint, bourbon, simple syrup and shaved or crushed ice. Traditionally, mint juleps were served in silver or pewter cups and held only by the bottom and top edges of the cup, enabling frost to form on the outside of the cup.

"Real mint juleps are dry, not overly sweet, which makes them the perfect summer cocktail," said chef Eric Hara of the Oak Room in New York City. "Being outside in the hot southern heat, a mint julep is cooling and refreshing."

There is a debate about the best way to incorporate mint into a mint julep. Some bartenders muddle it with sugar, others combine it with simple syrup and some infuse the simple syrup with mint. Here are a few options:

The Oak Room Mint Julep:

4 fresh mint sprigs
2.5 oz bourbon
.5 tsp white sugar
Splash of soda water

Muddle mint and sugar. Add bourbon. Top with soda water and serve in a silver julep glass. Serves one.

Chef Bobby Flay has a simple recipe for the warm-weather drink:

Bobby Flay's Mint Julep:

A shot of bourbon
Two teaspoons simple syrup
Fresh mint
Shaved ice

Combine a shot of bourbon, a few teaspoons of simple syrup and several mint sprigs in a mint julep cup and muddle with spoon. Add shaved ice and more mint. Serve immediately. Serves one.

Derby Meal with Bobby Flay

Jason Littrell, with Death & Co. in New York, gently rubs the bottom of the glass with mint by using a muddler, and rubs the inside of the glass with muddle mint as well before removing it and adding the simple syrup, bourbon and ice. He also garnishes with a large amount of mint - which he thinks should be more smelled than tasted.

For proper technique, watch Robert Hess, one of the founders of The Museum of the American Cocktail, demonstrate how to make a mint julep on the Small Screen Network. Hess muddles the mint lightly with simple syrup - too much muddling and the mint becomes bitter - and finishes the drink off with a light dusting of powdered sugar.



And for a different sort of julep, Junior Merino, a mixologist who has created cocktail lists for restaurants across the country, adds a twist by adding ginger:

Ginger Julep:

1/6 lime (Gently muddle)
6-7 mint leaves
3 dashes of Fee Brothers peach bitters
1/2 oz simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 water)
3/4 oz Domaine de Canton
1 3/4 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Once the lime is gently muddled and the mint is bruised, add the rest of the ingredients, ice and shake and strain into a julep cup with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig. Serves one.