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What type of mint for a mint julep?

17 years ago

Peppermint? Spearmint?

is there just a "plain" old mint??!

Thanks!

Featured Answer

gborosteve

17 years ago

I would do a spearmint first, I think. Maybe a peppermint. Around here our local nursery carries one called "Kentucky Colonel's Mint" that is awesome. I have a bed of it planted and it smells just like a stick of Wriggly's gum! So wonderfully sweet and potent. That would work wonderful in a mint julep.
It's just a matter of taste, but I'd even try some lime mint in one, that would probably work nicely. Pineapple mint would be refreshing. So would orange mint. I don't think chocolate mint would be a good idea, though.

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Comments (9)

bluesgarden
17 years ago
How does one make a mint julip. Crush the leave and then what. Anyone have a detialed recipe. Thank you
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I luuuvve Mint Juleps; sadly I can't drink them because of diabetes. I enjoy making them and everyone raves so I suppose they're good. I make my own simple syrup and try to get home grown mint. I'm loving just thinking about them now. We're not "watching" anything, as such. Wes is in the garage, sanding the entry doors to the almost-completed office and sewing room. After that we're painting the two rooms closets' frames in anticipation of hanging the closet doors. New bifold, half-louvered half solid for the two closets in my sewing room. New 6-ft. sliders for the office closet. We decided the entry doors were of far better quality than anything we could easily find to replace them with, so they're getting a major facelift and going back up. I'm also hooking up a new printer, roasting a chicken, catching up on laundry, putting away winter blankets, hanging a blind on the sunporch side of the west bedroom window, packing Mother's Day boxes, and thoroughly enjoying my day.
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gborosteve
17 years ago
There are LOTS of different versions, some use simple syrup instead of confectioners' sugar, some use regular granular sugar...using it to muddle with the mint to bruise it and release it flavor. But here's one.

SOUTHERN MINT JULEP

2 sprigs fresh mint
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup ice, crushed
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1 sprig fresh mint

1. Place mint in blender; add water and sugar.
2. Blend until leaves disappear, add ice and bourbon; blend a few seconds.
3. Pour into frosted glass or julep cup which has been filled with finely chopped ice.
4. Stir and decorate with a sprig of mint.
5. Serves 1.
6. Note: Serve with a short straw that is no taller than the mint, so one enjoys the aroma as well as the taste.
Daisyduckworth
17 years ago
Definitely spearmint. Which is plain old, ordinary, common or garden mint by a fancy name.

To avoid confusion, think of 'peppermint goes with chocolate' or other sweet things. Spearmint for most other things.
regina_ga
17 years ago
i just bought some mint and it was called mint julep
bluesgarden
17 years ago
Thank You gborosteve for the recipe. Will be trying this as soon as this gale force wind stops and the warm weather returns, Seems wrong to have a mint julip on a cold day!
gborosteve
17 years ago
Yeah, a cold day isn't the right time for a Julep. They lend themselves to spring days, to summer days and definitely hot and humid days.

Oh, and to make sure it's authentic, only use Kentucky Bourbon.
wildhyacinth
8 years ago
Oh, gborosteve, I bought a Kentucky Colonel plant too, but mine rapidly perished of mint rust, alas! Mint juleps were not really my plan; I did manage to salvage a few sprigs for tea though. I'll give it another try next season. *wistful sigh*
HU-374418287
11 months ago
I make a simple mint syrup plus leaves crushed against my SS julep cup at the end. Spearmint a little better than apple mint. Much better color.

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