Welcome to Cocktail Party Month: How to Make a Perfect Mint Julep

Hello, and greetings from the ManMade Space Age Bachelor Pad! With a clink of our martini glasses, we’re officially declaring May 2010 “Cocktail Party Month.” Throughout May, we’ll be  featuring classy cocktail recipes, tips to stock your home bar, techniques, and all the food, fun, and ambience that goes into creating a classic cocktail party.

And we want YOU to throw your own cocktail party, so we’re gonna help out. The week of May 24-29, we’ll be hosting a ManMade Giveaway and supplies all the goodies you need to start becoming a master mixologist. So, stay tuned.

To start things off, let’s pretend it’s still two days ago, and make a mint julep. Since 1938, the mint julep has been the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby

Classic Mint Julep

• 2 – 4 sprigs of fresh mint, plus one for garnishing
• 1 1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar – or –  1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces bourbon (try Woodford Reserve or Knob Creek here)
• Splash of soda water (optional)

1). In a old fashioned glass (or silver/pewter julep cup), muddle the mint and the suger/simple syrup with a muddler or wooden spoon.

2) Fill the glass 3/4 of the way with crushed ice, and add the bourbon.

3) Add the soda water (if desired) and swirl with a metal spoon until the outside of the glass gets frosty.

4) Add more ice to fill the glass, and garnish with the remaining mint.

When drinking a julep, hold your glass only on the very bottom or top rim, and use a straw. This allows the glass to stay super icy, harkening back to the pre-A.C. summer days of the Souther U.S. in which juleps were invented.

Cheers!

-Chris