Mint Juleps Food

MINT JULEPS FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• To make simple syrup, combine sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan.
• Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring the mixture to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add washed mint (still on the stem, just stir it all in).
• Set aside for 24 hours.
• Strain the mixture into a jar and discard the mint.
• Chill julep cups or glasses in the freezer before making juleps.
• Fill them with crushed ice.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of mint syrup and 2 ounces of bourbon.
• Garnish with sprigs of mint, if desired.

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.

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.

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

Steps:

• Place the mint in the bottom of a mortar/pestle, and top with the sugar.
• Muddle these together until the leaves start to break down and dissolve the sugar. Transfer to a cocktail glass.
• Add a splash of seltzer water.
• Fill the glass 3/4 with ice, and add the bourbon.
• Top with more seltzer; stir and garnish with a sprig of mint.

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.

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Shake the bourbon, mint leaves and sugar syrup with ice and strain into a highball glass or julep tin filled with crushed ice. Churn gently with a long-handled spoon and top with more crushed ice. Garnish and serve.