On Saturday, I hear there’s some sort of race? Maybe with horses? But, more importantly, Saturday is a day for drinking Mint Juleps, a beautiful and simple drink that’s sublime in the warmer months. Only, we posted a Mint Julep recipe four years ago (!!!) that’s still pretty much exactly how I’d make that drink, so I don’t know how much point there is to mess around with perfection. Instead, we’re going to offer a spin on the Mint Julep, a Bourbon Mojito that’s basically a Mint Julep/Mojito mash-up as a playful alternative for tomorrow. – Andrew

Bourbon Mojito

2 oz Kentucky Bourbon
3/4 oz Falernum Syrup
1/2 a Lime
Mint
Soda Water

Add the syrup to a highball glass and gently muddle with a sprig of mint to extract the mint’s oils. Press the mint; don’t shred it. Remove the mint (promptly, if it is oxidizing and turning brown), extracting as much of the minty syrup as possible. Add the bourbon and squeeze the lime into the glass. Drop the spent lime shell into the glass, if that’s your thing, or not. Add ice and more mint leaves (don’t muddle these, but you can give them a slap in the palm of your hand to release the mint’s aromatics). Top with soda water, give it a stir, and enjoy!

The Mint Julep is cool and smooth and luxurious. The Mojito is cool and lively and tropical. Put them together, and you get something that doesn’t split the difference but plays up the best of both: rich and smooth from the bourbon, but also zippy and a bit tropical from the soda and lime and falernum. Not a bad alternative if you’re looking for something a bit different tomorrow…

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Glassware by Liquorary

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper