Ginger Julep

Oh how I love a good cocktail. No matter where I am drinking one, even if it’s on my couch, I feel like I’m somewhere special having a grand time. It could be simple like my go to Jack & Coke, or you can get fancy, like this Ginger Julep! I adore mint juleps and this one takes that classic drink and spices it up with ginger. There’s also a touch of orange juice to round out the flavors. The drink starts by making your own ginger-mint syrup. It’s really quite easy to make simple syrups and the flavor possibilities are endless. This one has mint, ginger, and orange peel. Once your syrup is ready and cooled, pour it in a glass with orange juice and good bourbon. Garnish with crushed ice and more mint and you’ve got one fancy cocktail! (Even if you’re like me and drink it on the couch in your yoga pants.)

So, how’s it taste?

I really liked the addition of ginger in this drink, but I couldn’t taste it as strong as I wanted to. I really wanted to be slapped in the face with that spicy ginger goodness. So next time, I’m going to amp up the ginger in the syrup big time. Even though the ginger wasn’t so prominent, I loved this drink. I added a bit more orange juice to mine because what does slap you in the face is the bourbon. I love me some bourbon, but it was too strong for my taste. So in my cocktail I added another tablespoon of the ginger-mint syrup and a few more splashes of o.j. Perfect! I’ll be sipping on this baby come gameday…which we we are sooooo close to football season! Squee!

Anyone watching Orange is the New Black? I think I’m the last person to catch on to it, but it’s awesome! The characters are so over-the-top ridiculous and the stuff that happens to the main character is so funny. It does have its touching moments telling the backstory of each inmate. It also has some Whoa simmer down! moments since it’s not on regular TV. I hate when shows on those networks push it too far because they can. I don’t need to see an image of a hoo-haa to get the storyline about an image of a hoo-haa. Okay? I’m almost finished with the first season and I’ll be binge-watching the second. What are you watching these days?

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Yield: 1 serving

Ginger Julep

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 1/2 oz. fresh orange juice
1 tbsp. ginger-mint syrup
Crushed ice, for garnish
Mint sprig, for garnish

Ginger-Mint Syrup
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups water
1/4 lb. fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
One 3-inch piece of orange peel
1/4 cup lightly packed mint leaves

Directions:

1. For the syrup, in a small saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil; simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the ginger, orange peel, and mint. Let the syrup cool completely, 1 hour; strain through a fine sieve before using. The syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.

2. For the julep, in a chilled julep cup or glass, combine the bourbon with the orange juice and ginger-mint syrup and stir well. Fill the cup with crushed ice and mix, spinning with a swizzle stick or bar spoon. Top with additional crushed ice and garnish with the mint sprig.

Source: contributed by Bobby Flay to Food & Wine