With the Kentucky Derby coming up the weekend after (admittedly during what should be prime time pre-runoff fly fishing in the Northern Rockies), several reader friends have fired in variations on the Mint Julep to post here on Thirsty Thursday.
This one comes via Ricky K in Driggs and Jackson Hole, who claims to be a Tennessee mountain boy who wandered West to fly fish, bartending along the way to pay the bills. He noted about this Gin on Gin Julep –
…good gins have been undergoing something of a resurgence the past few years, at least in terms of interest among people who weren’t necessarily big gin fans in the past. The botanicals in gin pair surprisingly well with mint in this Julep knockoff, though it needs a little extra punch of sweetness in the rich simple syrup.
The bartender who showed this one to me said to use an ounce of the gin of your choice, and an ounce of Bols Genever, a kinda malty Dutch gin, though it can be a bit hard to find in some parts of the country (read the small town West)…
‘Nuff said.
1/2 ounce rich simple syrup (2 parts sugar, one water)
15 large mint leaves
2 ounces gin (or the combination above)
1 splash club sodaGarnish: Mint sprig
Muddle the mint and simple syrup in your Julep cup (in every Southerner’s cupboard, of course).
Fill with crushed ice and add the gin, top with the club soda and gently stir.
Garnish with a mint sprig and go to it.
Enjoy.
