Mint Julep Spritzer Food

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Place the mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass and top with the sugar. Muddle these together until the leaves begin to break down. Add a splash of seltzer water, fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice, and add the bourbon. Top with another splash of seltzer, stir, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

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.

THE PERFECT MINT JULEP

Steps:

• To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.
• To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.
• To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.
• Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.
• To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.
• When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

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.

SARAH'S CITRUS SPRITZER

Steps:

• Bring sugar, water, lemon zest, orange zest, and basil to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and allow simple syrup to cool, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Pour lemon juice and orange juice into a high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix®). Add strawberries and simple syrup. Blend on low speed (1), then slowly increase speed to high (10) and blend until pureed, about 45 seconds.
• For each drink, fill an old fashioned glass with ice. Pour 1/4 cup strawberry puree over top and fill with seltzer water.

LEMON MINT SPRITZER

Steps:

• Cut lemons into wedges and squeeze the juice into a large pitcher. Stir in the lemonade concentrate, confectioners' sugar and mint; add lemon wedges. Chill until serving., Just before serving, stir in carbonated water. Serve over ice.

GINGER MINT JULEP

Steps:

• For mint syrup, place sugar, water and chopped mint in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool completely., Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer; discard mint. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours., For each serving, place ice in a mint julep cup or rocks glass. Add bourbon, lime juice and 1/4 cup mint syrup; stir until mixture is cold. Top with beer.

LEMON-MINT SPRITZER

Steps:

• Fill a tall glass with ice and add 6 crushed mint leaves. Pour in 1/4 cup of Lemon Syrup and 1 cup of sparkling water.
• Garnish with a twist of lemon.