Perfection is hard to come by, but with the Kentucky Derby around the corner, we have been working on the perfect mint julep recipe for you to enjoy. After some extensive testing, and a quite a few missed attempts at drinking perfection, we decided to go strait to the classic recipe as defined by Maker’s Mark. Said to be the Bill Samuels Sr. family recipe, it hits the perfect notes of mint, sweet, and bitter, leaving us feeling refreshed and wholly Southern, even if for a few moments.
A classic for any Kentucky Derby party, we recommend having a station setup for DIY mint juleps with this recipe being presented as the one to follow. For ingredients like the simple syrup, we recommend homemade for the best flavor and experience.
Ingredients (makes one drink)
- 1-1/2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
- Fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup muddled with mint
- Splash of distilled water
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
- 1 short glass
- Crushed ice
To make this drink, twist and press mint to bruise before adding to the simple syrup inside your mixing glass. Mix together simple syrup, muddling the mint. Add Maker’s Mark Bourbon and the distilled waterglass. Fill your short glass with crushed ice and pour mixture over top. Sprinkle the top of the ice with a half -teaspoon of powdered sugar, and garnish with a mint sprig. Sit back, watch the race, and enjoy.