Mint Julep

All my roads in spring and summer eventually lead to mint juleps for as long as I can remember. Was I four or five years old and picking mint with my toddler sister on Loft Mountain so the grownups could have their mint juleps? Traditionally all of Daddy’s family would gather on Loft Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway at least once a summer to picnic and drink mint juleps. We chose a picnic table with mint growing wild all around. The mint was much more important than the view. It is still family tradition to fix mint juleps in mason jars with fresh picked mint from someone’s yard at summer reunions. Last summer, Cousin Ken made sure we celebrated Daddy’s 96 years of wonderful life with a round of mint juleps at his memorial dinner.

Here is my mint julep. I had to taste test it to make sure I got the recipe to my liking. I like mine on the sweet side. Cousin Ken cuts the simple syrup to a teaspoon each of water and sugar. In fact he doesn’t even bother making simple syrup. He puts the sugar straight in the jar to mull the mint.

I upgraded from a mason jar. Here is my recipe. First I make simple syrup by putting one Tablespoon of sugar and one Tablespoon of water in my glass and microwaving it for 15 seconds. Then I stir the solution til all sugar is dissolved. Then I put in two hearty sprigs of fresh mint and bruise the mint with a wooden spoon in the sugar water. I then add crushed ice to the top of the glass. Next I pour in a jigger of bourbon all over the crushed ice. I stirrrr and then top off with more crushed ice and a small mint sprig. I stir gain and bury my nose in the glass. That smell brings back many fond memories of family picnics on Loft Mountain and gourmet summer dinners with MaryBeth who loves a good mint julep as much as I do. Cheers to you and all you hold dear!