Sparkling Mint Juleps Food

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.

SPARKLING JULEP (COGNAC, MINT, CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL)

Steps:

• Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass. Add Champagne, cognac, and bitters. Fill glass partway with crushed ice and stir gently to combine. Mound more crushed ice on top and garnish with a mint sprig and a lemon twist.

SPARKLING MINT JULEPS

Steps:

• In a jar, combine the mint, bourbon, lime juice, maple syrup and stir. Pour into an 8 ounce julep glass filled with ice and top it off with the sparkling wine. Garnish with more lime slices and mint leaves.

SPARKLING MINT & LEMON JULEPS

Steps:

• Put the sugar and lemon juice in a small pan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 2 minutes to make a syrup. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. This can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for up to a week.
• To serve, pour the lemon syrup into 6 champagne flutes or tall glasses, top up each glass with the chilled sparkling wine, then stir quickly to mix before serving with mint sprigs tucked in the top.

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 JULEP PUNCH

Steps:

• Combine the jelly and 2 cups water in a saucepan and heat, stirring, over low heat until the jelly melts.
• Let cool.
• Add the bourbon, juices and 2 cups water and chill in the refrigerator.
• To serve, pour the juice mixture over ice in a punch bowl.
• Slowly pour in 7-Up, stirring gently.
• Garnish with lime slices and fresh mint leaves, if desired.