Original Recipe: Mint Juliet
Tales of the Cocktail is soliciting mint julep recipes to achieve a spot as the official cocktail of this year’s celebration/trade show/extravaganza. The only rules: It has to have mint and it has to have sugar. Pretty much everything else is fair game.
I went pretty wide — figuring a bourbon-based julep wasn’t going to win any points for originality, but that, say, a gin julep would be pretty nasty. Eventually I settled on this feminine, tropical drink that will remind you more of a Mai Tai than the Kentucky classic. But I still think it’s pretty good!
The Mint Juliet
About 8 mint leaves
1/8 oz. (about 1 barspoon) simple syrup
2 1/2 oz. Cruzan Mango Rum
1/2 oz. St. Germain Liqueur
Fresh mango and mint for garnish
In a highball glass, muddle mint leaves and simple syrup. Add Cruzan Mango rum and St. Germain, then add crushed ice to slightly above the total level of liquid. Stir well. Garnish with a fresh mango slice and mint sprig and serve.
Sadly, though I made about a dozen of these over the course of experimentation, I failed to take a photo of any of them. Wish me luck!
