The Menges Mint Julep

By Stephen Phillips

Here's a tasty treat for horse-racing aficionados, a mint julep worthy of Kentucky gentry. Cook up the mint syrup the night before your tailgate party.

Mint Syrup

Ingredients:

10 cups of fresh mint leaves
8 cups of sugar
8 cups of water

Preparation:

1. Combine your 10 cups of fresh mint leaves and sugar in a bowl.
   
2. Use a pestle or flat end of a spoon to muddle or mash your mint leaves and sugar together.
   
3. Boil this mixture in 8 cups of water until the sugar dissolves.
   
4. Strain out the mint leaves as best you can.
   
5. Pour into a glass.
   
6. Transfer to a bottle or small jug with a spout to make it easier to pour at the tailgate party.

The day of the event:

Ingredients:

1 bottle of bourbon
Mint syrup
Several mint sprigs for garnish
Crushed ice (you can have your friends "crush" regular ice cubes at the party)

Preparation:

1. First fill glass with crushed ice.
   
2. Add 2 ounces of bourbon and a tablespoon of mint syrup.
   
3. Stir and garnish with a mint sprig.

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