Mint Julep Party Pitcher Food

HOW TO MAKE A WHOLE PITCHER OF MINT JULEPS

Steps:

• Make mint simple syrup: Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Submerge 1 cup tightly packed mint leaves in the liquid. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and infuse for 1 hour. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean, lidded jar. Refrigerate if not using immediately.
• Muddle the mint and mix the cocktail: Drop 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves into the bottom of a pitcher. Muddle using a wooden spoon to release the mint's essential oils by pressing down and slightly twisting your utensil. The mint should appear bruised but not torn or blackened. Stir in the bourbon and mint simple syrup.
• Crush the ice: Wrap ice cubes in a clean tea towel. Pound with a rolling pin or meat mallet to crush the ice.
• Serve: Scoop enough ice into individual julep cups or Old Fashioned glasses until they are very full. Pour in 3 ounces of the bourbon and mint syrup mixture. Top with a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a dusting of powdered sugar, if desired

MINT JULEP PARTY PITCHER

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat and submerge 3 bunches of mint. Let stand at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight. Strain.
• Stir together the mint simple syrup (you should have 2 1/2 cups) and bourbon in a pitcher. Add a couple of sprigs of mint for garnish. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 8 hours.
• Pack 8 mint julep cups with crushed ice. Pour 4 ounces of the mint julep mixture into each; garnish with a mint sprig and serve with a straw. When the outside of the cup has frosted over, you are ready to enjoy.

MINT JULEP SPRITZER

Steps:

• Mix fresh lemon juice, sugar, and fresh mint leaves in small bowl until sugar dissolves; press on mint with back of spoon to crush lightly. Let stand 30 minutes. Strain mint and lemon mixture into pitcher. Mix in bourbon, then club soda and ice. Pour into 8 tall glasses. Garnish each drink with mint sprig.

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• 1. Gather ingredients.
• 2. Place the mint leaves in the bottom of the cup to muddle. (Don't tear the leaves) Set aside one leaf for garnish.
• 3. Add 1 ounce of simple syrup. (You may add more or less if you like depending on how sweet you want this.)
• 4. Add the bourbon.
• 5. Add crushed ice and stir for about 30 seconds.
• 6. Add more crushed ice and stir again. The ice will dilute the drink and frost the cup and that's what you want. Garnish with a mint leaf.
• 7. COOKS NOTE: The proper cup to use is silver or pewter. I believe they can be purchased at your local BEVMO.

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.

FRESH MINT TEA JULEPS

Steps:

• Make Tea:
• Bring water, mint, and sugar to a boil in a 4-to 5-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Strain through a sieve into a large pitcher, pressing on and then discarding mint.
• Make cocktails:
• Fill 8 (8-ounces) glasses halfway with ice. Add 2 tablespoons bourbon to each glass, then top off with mint tea.

MINT JULEP - PARTY-SIZE

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan and stir in sugar until dissolved. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and boil the syrup until it becomes clear, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir 1 cup mint leaves into the simple syrup and allow to cool thoroughly. Pour syrup and mint leaves into a container with a lid. Mix in 1 more cup mint leaves, cover, and refrigerate mint syrup at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Pour whiskey and chilled mint syrup into a large cooler or drink dispenser.
• To serve, fill 10-ounce glasses with ice and dispense 2 to 4 ounces mint julep mixture into each glass. Top with ice water and 1 or 2 mint leaves per cocktail and stir.

MINT JULEP SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a 2 quart pitcher. Press mint leaves against sides of pitcher with back of spoon to release flavors. Stir in tea and bourbon. Serve over crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaves.

MINT JULEP - THE REAL THING

Steps:

• Mix the sugar & water in a saucepan. Boil, while stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat & let cool for 15 minutes.
• Bruise 6 mint leaves to release the oil. Place them in a glass pitcher or jar.
• Pour cooled syrup over mint, cap tightly & store in the refrigerator overnight.
• When ready to partake, strain syrup to remove leaves.
• Into your cocktail shaker add bourbon, mint syrup & 1/2 cup ice.
• Shake, shake, shake your julep.
• Pour mixture into a small glass or julep cup.
• Top with a fresh mint leaf.
• Serve with a short straw.