Have a Julep - with your Summer Clothing

THE KENTUCKY JULEP

THE JULEP is not a misers beverage, and it reaches Its height of conviviality only where friends are gathered together to lend the nectar of their charm to the succulent ingredients, which combine to soothe all of the senses of man. Even as friendship is a nurtured emotion so is a JULEP born.

One does not dash madly to the ice tray, bombard commercial glasses with characterless lumps of cold, splash whiskey, sugar and water into a blasphemous hodepodge stirring the whole with a hasty finger that has only Just applied some mint to the conglomeration with the gesture one would use to discard parsley from a main course to his butter plate.

Ah, and The JULEP is a triumph of leisure. First, one should have a prechilled silver tumbler. He then selects a tender sprig of mint (the sacrificial mint) which is rubbed with firm, though gentle, pressure around the interior walls of the tumbler, being careful not to crush, or mince, the leaves it is fragrant taste we are seeking.

Crush ice to the size of pebbles from a clear and running brook until each particle sparkles in the late afternoon sun like the eyes of fairies caught in the morning dew.
Pack the tumbler with these Joyous creatures, then feed them sweet nectar brewed of equal parts of sugar and water to the consistency of liquid honey. A teaspoon and a half, poured slowly over the ice, should suffice.
Then fill the tumbler with finest Bourbon from Kentucky, of course.
Now, stir until a frost appears, add fresh, tender, topleaf sprigs of mint about three inches long, and serve.
Did you ever FEEL such a cool caress
Did you ever SEE a more relaxing picture.
Did you ever HEAR a more pleasing tune.
Did you ever SMELL a more fragrant odor.
Did you ever TASTE a more enjoyable sip.
What more, then, can you possibly need except a friend to enjoy a JULEP with you.

By J. Cabell Breckinridge, a long~time resident of Kentucky. He identified strongly with the community's traditions, and this recipe for a mint julep merges his sentiments with a dash of humor for how a julep is really made and enjoyed

I will soon be posting a pictorial on the ideal Julep....

Derby Day's Eve is upon us....

I've got three Derby Piesâ„¢ in the oven right now. I found some mint in the back yard so I'm all set for our (non-alcoholic) mint juleps. Hot browns, too, tomorrow. Â

Ok, real simple... Â Shaved ice - nah Sugary mint syrup? Nah See before after picture below, this is very simple: 1. Â Put one medium ice cube in glass 2. Â Pour 4oz premium bourbon over cube 3. Â Drop in sprig of mint 4. Â Drink. 5. Â (Repeat every 90 minutes)

I've got three Derby Piesâ„¢ in the oven right now. I found some mint in the back yard so I'm all set for our (non-alcoholic) mint juleps. Hot browns, too, tomorrow. Â

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I'm not a particular fan of the Derby pie. It is a recent affectation that adds chocolate to a decent Southern Tradition of the Chess pie. And I have a much better recipe for the chess pie. Anyway, if you cannot have country ham and biscuits, at least do the tenderloin. Fresh spring asparagus with hollindaise for dipping. Along with cheese grits. Then followed by strawberries for desert. Nothing to drink but Mint Juleps - and none of that normal 80 proof stuff that is usually served to weak yankee guests.

I always thought the idea was to let the Bourbon, sugar, and mint sit for a while in the fridge, allowing the flavorful oils from the mint to dissolve in the alcohol.

Edward - it is and you are correct.

...If, however, bourbon is your favorite the other 364 days per year the very notion of destroying a good single barrel bourbon by adding mint kool aid is too painful to give serious consideration to.

Ok, real simple...  

Shaved ice - nah
Sugary mint syrup? Nah


See before after picture below, this is very simple:

1.  Put one medium ice cube in glass
2.  Pour 4oz premium bourbon over cube
3.  Drop in sprig of mint
4.  Drink.
5.  (Repeat every 90 minutes)

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I must say, even knowing that you are a cultured product of the South, that the imaptience of the Northern culture is evident in your Julep preperation.

Perhaps you will find this recipe one that satisfies your tastes:

"One of the most enduring things Courier-Journal editor Henry Watterson wrote was his julep recipe:

'Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the evening is about to form upon it. Select the choicer sprigs only, but do not rinse them. Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away and drink the whiskey.'"

Charley... note the mint in the picture... planted 3 months ago and lovingly tended indoors all winter for just his occasion.

What say you now, sir?

Quote:

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(Carlo @ May 06 2005,19:08) Ok, real simple... Â Shaved ice - nah Sugary mint syrup? Nah See before after picture below, this is very simple: 1. Â Put one medium ice cube in glass 2. Â Pour 4oz premium bourbon over cube 3. Â Drop in sprig of mint 4. Â Drink. 5. Â (Repeat every 90 minutes)
I must say, even knowing that you are a cultured product of the South, Â that the imaptience of the Northern culture is evident in your Julep preperation. Perhaps you will find this recipe one that satisfies your tastes: "One of the most enduring things Courier-Journal editor Henry Watterson wrote was his julep recipe: 'Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the evening is about to form upon it. Select the choicer sprigs only, but do not rinse them. Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away and drink the whiskey.'"
Reminds me of Churchill's unparalleled technique for Martini preparation (my paraphrase): To a mixing glass filled with ice, add 2 1/2 oz London dry Gin. Allow light to pass through a bottle of Vermouth and into the glass. Return Vermouth to shelf. Strain and drink.

Charley... note the mint in the picture... planted 3 months ago and lovingly tended indoors all winter for just his occasion.

What say you now, sir?

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I say, are you sure that was mint that was: "planted 3 months ago and lovingly tended indoors all winter for just his occasion."

Edward - it is and you are correct.

...If, however, bourbon is your favorite the other 364 days per year the very notion of destroying a good single barrel bourbon by adding mint kool aid is too painful to give serious consideration to.

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The whole idea of "single barrell bourbon" is a very modern affectation, employed by distillery marketers to increase prices upon the unknowing.


I prepare my simple syrup by adding mint to the cold water before putting it on the heat to bring to a boil.  Just as the water reaches a bubbeling point - very slight simmer - I remove the mint.  Continuing with the heat, once the boil is reached, I add the sugar in a one to one ratio to the water.  The result is a slightly mint infused simple syrup.

Keep the silver cups, bourbon, and syrup in the freezer.

When creating a Julep, I first pound the ice, wrapped in a heavy towel.  (It DOES take twice as much ice cubes as you would expect for each julep.)  Then select some top leaves and put them first into the cup.  Use a silver spoon to bruise them - dont chop them up.  Leaving the spoon and mint in the cup, pack the cup with the powdered ice.  Add a measure and one half of the 100 proof Bourbon - use 80 proof for the yankees' drink or they may make a fool of themselves.  Then follow with one measure of the syrup.  Add several sprigs of mint to the cup, bruising some of the leaves to allow the scent to escape and contribute to the flavor of the mixture.

The interesting thing about a real julep is that the flavor changes if allowed to age in the hand.  The mint scent becomes more powerful, the syrup and the bourbon combine differently, and the melting ice changes the potency.  It tastes slightly different with each sip.

BTW, when serving one to a Lady, be certain to add a straw for her.  Ladies sip them through the straws.  Men can drink directly from the silver cup.

Charley... note the mint in the picture... planted 3 months ago and lovingly tended indoors all winter for just his occasion.

What say you now, sir?

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Perhaps you should get winter hardy mint.

ROFL - Ok Ok Ok I said what if... you and I both know you can't kill the stuff outside.

LOL

OK, this is the best I could do with stuff laying around the house in a moments notice. Â It goes without saying that the shoe is a buc or (preferably) spectator... Ralph Lauren beige DB seersucker suit, lt blue Carlo Franco shirt, bow tie (not exactly CF - just a sample we were playing with before deciding against them.) Same, with a "real" CF tie. Ralph Lauren Ivory DB Linen Suit, CF shirt & tie (of course) OK, Derby Day is the one day of the year to do a little bit of "festive" summer attire in a way you probably wouldn't do the rest of the year. Â RL linen suit, Turnbull & Asser shirt, CF tie. I had a few others, but got tired of editing photos. Â Most of all ~ Have Fun. Â Juleps up..