Drinks

Mint Julep Month: The Golden Gait Julep

Bring a splash of bubbly to the party with this cocktail’s key ingredient: champagne syrup

March 25, 2019

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Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

This drink was built to refresh, says Alex Negranza of Houston’s Tongue-Cut Sparrow: “I tied together some of the quintessential components of Derby Day and the mint julep while incorporating some of the ingredients I love to use in refreshing cocktails in the warmer months.” The flavors of champagne and maraschino cherry add extra luxury to a special-occasion cocktail.

Ingredients

For the cocktail
- 1½ oz. Maker's Mark® bourbon
- Handful of mint leaves
- 2 tbsp. Champagne syrup (see recipe below)
- 1 tbsp. maraschino liqueur
- Pebble ice
- 2-3 sprays of absinthe (optional)
For the Champagne Syrup
- Bottle of Champagne
- 3 cups sugar

Preparation

For the Cocktail:

Muddle bourbon and mint leaves (save a few for garnish). Stir in Champagne syrup and maraschino liqueur. Add ice. Garnish with mint leaves. Spray absinthe on top.

For the Champagne Syrup:

Grab a bottle of Champagne (pour yourself a little) and add to a pot to be reduced. Reduce down by 50% and add in 3 cups of sugar. This will yield enough syrup to be used in plenty of juleps. Store in an airtight container in the fridge to keep for later use.