30th May is Mint Julep Day!!!
Did you hear us on BBC Radio Norfolk this morning? We had so much fun talking all things Summer, cocktails and of course the now infamous Mint Julep.
Did you know the Juleps are actually a category of drinks, although the most popular variation by far is the Bourbon based classic.
If you're not a fan of whiskey, we think Bourbon is a great introduction. Complex and flavoursome you should get flavours of vanilla, spice and even caramel.
The classic Mint Julep recipe is simply 50ml Bourbon, 10ml sugar-syrup and a handful of fresh garden mint.
The key is to muddle the mint with the syrup in a silver julep cup (see pic below) or a tall glass. Make sure you bruise the mint rather than breaking it- if you chop or bash too hard it will release lots of bitter elements.
Add your bourbon, fill with crushed ice and stir for a good 30 seconds until all the ingredients are mixed with the ice and there is a layer of condensation on the glass. Now top with crushed ice again to form a dome and garnish with a mint sprig (some people dust it with powdered sugar for an extra frosty look).
Don't fancy Bourbon?
You can easily swap the base spirit for something that takes your fancy. Rum, brandy or cognac work well. You can even use gin, but go for a more flavoursome variety- a bathtub gin such as Norfolk Gin would be amazing.
You can also try an alcohol-free spirit such as Caleno Dark & Spicy. It's a fabulous rum alternative, with a slight 'alcohol' burn so it really gives the impression that you are drinking rum!
Other Variations
Of course, in true Mindful Mixology style, we have played around with fruits we had in the freezer (from last year's crop) and herbs from the garden.
Blueberry and sage is the perfect pairing with mint and Bourbon. Give it a go, and let us know how you get along. The recipe below makes around 1 litre so you can use it for other cocktails recipes, baking or even over your yoghurt!
For the blueberry and sage syrup (this recipe gives you 1 litre)
- 20g sage leaves
- 1 unwaxed lemon
- 1 litre of water
- 250g of organic unrefined cane sugar or 150g of sugar alternative such as Monk Fruit (you can also use 100ml organic agave or honey)
- 1 punnet of Blueberries
You can play around with herbs in this if sage isn't your thing. Rosemary or mint would work well.
Add your sugar element, water, and blueberries to a saucepan on the stove on medium heat. Stir thoroughly until the sugar dissolves. It’ll take about 10-15 minutes.
Next add your washed sage leaves and take off the heat. Allow the liquid to cool to room temperature. Strain and store in the fridge in a clean glass jar.
At this stage it depends how much you want to strain the liquid. Use a fine strainer if you'd like it smoother.
Blueberry & Sage Julep
Recipe for the Blueberry and Sage Julep
Bash a handful of mint leaves and pop in a tall glass with 20ml of the blueberry syrup. Add 30ml of a good quality Bourbon and fill with crushed ice. (You can add 50ml here, but we like ours with slightly less alcohol).
Stir thoroughly until a layer of condensation forms on the outside of the glass.
Top with more crushed ice, so it forms a dome. Garnish with berries or a sprig of mint.
Enjoy- and let us know what you think!
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If you liked the sound of this recipe you're bound to like our award-winning Grapefruit Margarita! Available as a single bottle or in a gift-box of three. It's made with organic agave and organic orange blossom- and perfect for cocktail delivery,
Did you know we have also launched a range of delivery cocktails for Jubillee weekend?
We have created a great range of Jubilee cocktails to help you celebrate either as part of a street party or a small celebration with your family. There is something for every sized event- you can choose our miniature pouches available from Sponge as part of their cake card range, or 250ml bottles from Mindful Mixology. We can also create bespoke sizes ranging from 700ml to 3 litre pouches upon request. Simply drop us an email and we can work to your needs! danni@mindfulmixology.co.uk.
You can also create a personalised Jubilee cocktail by choosing our Personalised Cocktail and selecting any of our flavours in the notes. Simply send in your photo and we will add it to any cocktail, with a super-fast turnaround! We ask for 2 days notice to design and post out your personalised Jubilee cocktail!
We can deliver our Jubilee cocktails all over the UK, with 48-hour delivery if you order before 10am. You can send yummy, low sugar and vegan-friendly cocktails direct to your friend's doors. With a long shelf-life, our Jubilee cocktails are just perfect for any celebration! Once opened, pop the cocktails in the fridge and they will last at least one month- that's if they aren't drunk by then!