The mint julep is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. The classic version combines bourbon, mint, sugar, and water, and is served over heaps of crushed ice in a signature silver or pewter cup. It is a drink to be savored on the first Saturday in May, while the thoroughbreds make their way down the Churchill Downs’ backstretch. (DYK nearly 120,000 mint juleps are sold every year at the Kentucky Derby?)
But we have a confession to make: we don't really care for mint juleps. Too often they're cloyingly sweet and have just one flavor note: mint. Especially if you're using a syrup mixer, the minty sugariness can overpower the bourbon and make it hard to enjoy more than one julep.
Not wanting to be left out on Derby Day, we sought to create our own balanced version of this classic elixir. Fortunately, the answer was quickly found in the Mixicles® Floral Collection: Elderflower Lemon Mint. The flavors in this cube combine to create a deliciously nuanced mint julep.
Most important of all, remember that old Kentucky proverb as you sip your julep this Derby Day: "Keep your friends close, and your bourbon closer." (Much closer, in some cases.)
Elderflower Mint Julep
Ingredients:
- 2 Elderflower Lemon Mint Mixicles® cubes
- 2 oz. bourbon
- Mint for garnish
-
Champagne or sparkling lemonade (optional)
How to Mix:
For the simplest version of this drink, put the Mixicles® cubes in a julep cup, top with the bourbon, and garnish with fresh mint. To take it up a notch, muddle the cubes before adding the bourbon and top with crushed ice. If you want to go fancy, lace with Champagne or sparkling lemonade. Now head to the winner's circle!