Even without alcohol, it’s still a delicious drink that has that same mint julep taste. You can serve it at Kentucky Derby parties (fancy hats recommended) or at any spring or summer gathering. The mint julep is a sweet, boozy cocktail made with bourbon, mint and sugar. It’s a classic cocktail known for its silver glassware and has a reputation of being a refreshing drink.Ĭalled a silver julep cup, the traditional glassware keeps these cocktails ice cold, making them the perfect drink for a hot summer day. It’s been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby horse race since 1939. Nowadays, Churchill Downs sells more than 120,000 juleps at the event each year, according to the Kentucky Derby website. Made with Kentucky bourbon, mint juleps are known for their boozy flavor. However, they don’t have to contain booze at all. These are liquids flavored to taste like alcohol, but don’t actually contain any.Īnd truthfully, they’re quite delicious and you really can’t tell a big difference! If you’d like to try making mocktail versions of your favorite drinks, you can them with zero-proof spirits. To make a mint julep without alcohol, we’ll use zero-proof bourbon, a mint-infused simple syrup and fresh mint.īelow I’ll share some of my favorite brands for bourbon alternatives, too. You can certainly use a rocks glass or whatever you have on hand! The traditional mint julep is poured into a silver cup or pewter cup, though it’s not totally necessary. These metal-plated cups keep the cocktail very, very cold, just like the copper mugs used for Moscow Mules do.Įach year the Kentucky Derby sells collectible glasses to commemorate the event. ![]() To make a mint julep mocktail, here’s what you’ll need: Mint simple syrup Here are a few of my favorite julep cups to add to your glassware collection: favorite julep cups There are lots of these vintage derby cups on Etsy. You can make mint syrup with sugar, water and fresh mint leaves (which you can grow in your herb garden or pick up at the grocery store). You will need one cup sugar, one cup water and a big bunch of fresh mint sprigs, and then you’ll heat it up in a small saucepan on the stove until the sugar dissolves. ![]() I prefer to make a big batch to mix up lots of Derby cocktails.įeel free to use plain sugar or plain simple syrup and muddle it with fresh mint if you don’t want to make a mint-infused version of the syrup. You can also add a drop of peppermint essential oil or peppermint extract to regular simple syrup. The mint julep cocktail recipe calls for bourbon whiskey, and luckily there are a number of non-alcoholic whiskey brands out there. Ritual whiskey alternative is my favorite.Here are a few of the best zero-proof whiskeys on the market (affiliate links): You can find zero-proof spirits at specialty shops and online. Monday Zero Alcohol Whiskey is handcrafted in small batches in a California craft distillery.Spiritless Kentucky 74 is a non-alcoholic bourbon that’s made in Kentucky and has notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak.(I’m an affiliate but I would recommend it anyway!) This non-alcoholic spirit has flavors of vanilla, stone fruit and sugar. Matured in new white oak, it has flavors of butterscotch, burnt sugar, caramel and roasted coffee.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |