Scotch Julep
The Kentucky Derby's favourite cocktail gets a Scottish soul -- Scotch whisky and fresh mint over crushed ice create a cooling, aromatic warm-weather classic.
- 2 ozscotch whisky
- ½ ozsimple syrup
- 8 wholefresh mint leaves
- Fresh mint spriggarnish
- 1Add the mint leaves and simple syrup to a julep cup or highball glass.
- 2Gently press the mint with a muddler or bar spoon to express the oils -- do not shred the leaves.
- 3Add the Scotch and fill the glass three-quarters full with crushed ice.
- 4Stir and churn for 30 to 45 seconds, adding more crushed ice as needed until the glass is frosted.
- 5Mound more crushed ice on top and garnish with a generous fresh mint sprig.
- 6Serve immediately with a short straw.
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The Mint Julep is one of America's oldest cocktails, with roots tracing back to early nineteenth-century Virginia where it was described as "a dram of spirituous liquor with mint in it" as early as 1803. The original versions used whatever spirit was available -- brandy, rum, or whiskey -- before bourbon became the definitive choice after the Civil War. The Scotch Julep applies the same timeless structure to Scotch whisky, swapping out bourbon for something smokier and more complex. The result is an especially aromatic take on the format that plays beautifully with fresh mint.
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