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| Photo by David Krieger |
2/12 tsp sugar
6 fresh mint leaves
orange peel
orange flower water (optional)
splash of soda
crushed ice
3 oz brandy
more mint
blueberries
one large old-fashioned glass or julep cup
I harvested my mint this morning before the rains returned. Dried them. Wrapped them in paper towels. They're chilling in the fridge as I write. I grow a variety of mint especially suited to the mint julep. Eight summers in, I can no longer remember the name. Any fresh mint will do.
I've made juleps with bourbon and with gin. Chef Currence advises a shift to brandy. Redux. Mint Julep Revisited.
In the glass goes the sugar, the mint, the orange peel and orange flower water (if using) and the soda. Mull that mixture. Pulverize the ingredients. Pour in the brandy. Stir and garnish with more mint and blueberries.
I think I'll pulverize a few blueberries with the sugar! Never saw a blue mint julep. Have a great afternoon. I'm hoping to enjoy a rainless Kentucky Derby on the patio (fingers crossed) streaming in live via computer.
Inside or out the celebratory drink will taste so good! Thank you Chef! Now if I just had my silver julep cups and Gullah-woven straw julep tray that I parted with in haste those many years ago....
