Mint Julep Twists

It's common knowledge that the Mint Julep is the drink of choice for watching the Kentucky Derby. The question at hand, however, is which bottle of bourbon to use. As you can see by this list on straightbourbon.com there's a lot of bottlings to choose from, which you choose to use is a matter of personal choice. Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek and Jim Beam Black Label are a few of my personal favorites for this minty drink. However, there's no need to stick with the original recipe, you can add a little extra flavor by using other spirits in conjunction with or in place of the bourbon. Go fruity with a Pomegranate-Mint Julep by using equal parts of PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur and bourbon or a Georgia Mint Julep with equal parts of peach brandy and bourbon. Other popular options include replacing the bourbon with rum or brandy or a flavored whiskey like Phillips Union's Vanilla. No matter what you prefer to mix in your Mint Julep, two things should be constant: a well-chilled cup (silver julep tumbler is best) and fresh mint. Once the decision is made it's off to the races!

Photo Courtesy of: © Phillips Union Whiskey