Bee Limitless
Sweet Valerie’s Old-Timey Mint Juleps
Sweet Valerie conducted painstaking research to develop her Old Timey Mint Julep recipe, a very retro take on the classic cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. She explains "While most cocktail recipes call for a simple syrup, juleps were traditionally sweetened with natural honey, since refined sugar was once a pricey luxury. The complexity and depth of flavor that raw mint blossom honey imparts to this simple sipping drink is amazing, and once you’ve tried it you will never go back. Its strong herbal undertones, even allows you to forego muddling mint in each drink, though muddling will make you feel like a professional mixologist, and definitely adds an extra-fresh mint kick to the juleps."
INGREDIENTS
- Raw Mint Blossom Honey
- Fresh Mint
- Bourbon
- Crushed Ice
PROCEDURE
- Gently melt and whisk the mint blossom honey with equal parts cold water on a low flame, until liquified. Avoid heating too much (no need to cook the honey, just to further dilute it). Let cool for 10 minutes or so.
- For extra mintiness, you can muddle your mint leaves in to the liquid honey solution while it cools. Use about 1 part mint leaves to one part honey syrup, and let steep for at least an hour. Alternatively, you can muddle the mint leaves and steep in the bourbon to make a mint infusion.
- To serve, fill cup with crushed ice. Add on shot of bourbon and one shot of honey syrup, strained to remove the muddled mint.
- Bourbon has a distinctive bite, so you can add or subtract honey syrup to taste.
- For the faint of heart, a splash of sparkling water will lighten the drink.
- Garnish with mint sprigs and a short straw and enjoy.
* Valerie adds "To be completely authentic, serve in a silver cup...but adapt freely to fit region and circumstances."
