Mint Julep Margarita Food

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Make the mint syrup: Bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the mint sprigs, pressing with a wooden spoon to submerge them. Let cool to room temperature, then remove the mint with a slotted spoon and discard. Refrigerate the syrup until chilled, at least 1 hour. (You will have about 1 1/2 cups syrup; cover and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.)
• Make the drink: Put the mint leaves and 1 ounce of the mint syrup in a small glass or julep cup. Muddle with the handle of a wooden spoon until the leaves start to break apart. Stir in the bourbon. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

MINT JULEP MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place the limes in a cocktail shaker. Sprinkle with the sugar and add the mint leaves. Muddle well, making sure the juice is really extracted from the limes and the sugar has dissolved.
• Add the bourbon, orange liqueur and a couple of ice cubes. Cover and shake well, then strain into a glass. Can be served over ice or straight.
• Top off with seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

BLACKBERRY-MINT JULEP MARGARITA

Steps:

• Muddle blackberries and mint in a shaker. Add bourbon, tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar.
• Fill shaker with ice. Shake and strain into two julep glasses filled with fresh ice.

MINT JULEPS

Steps:

• Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves
• Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each. (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person's sweet tooth). Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw. Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups. Serve juleps on a silver platter.

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Stir together sugar and water in a mint julep cup (or 8-ounce glass) until sugar dissolves. Add mint, and muddle gently using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill with crushed ice, and add bourbon. Stir until outside of cup is frosted. Garnish with mint sprigs.

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• To highball glass or silver Julep cup, add minted simple syrup, then 1 cup crushed ice, bourbon, and splash of water. Add enough of remaining ice to almost fill glass. Stir well and garnish with mint sprig.

FROZEN MINT JULEP MARGARITA

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook until dissolved, about 1 minute. Turn off heat and add mint sprigs. Steep for 3 minutes as mint syrup cools. Remove and discard mint.
• Combine ice, margarita mix, tequila, 1 ounce mint syrup, and bourbon in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into 4 glasses.