Mint Julep 101: Exploring The Flavour Profile Of The Classic Cocktail
A classic cocktail with deep roots in the American south, the origin of the mint julep can be traced back to a time when bourbon was starting to gain recognition as a premium spirit in the mixology world. Mint julep has close associations with the Kentucky Derby too, where different julep variations are served to this day, especially as summertime cocktails.
About 30 ml bourbon is brought together with lots of fresh, muddled mint leaves and around one or two tablespoons of lime juice to craft the julep before serving it in a highball or rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Sometimes, a dash of simple syrup is also added to the recipe to lend it more sweetness.
Undoubtedly, it is the peppery and crisp notes of mint leaves coupled with the sweet and slightly tart taste of the bourbon that make this an interesting combination of contrasting flavours. Understanding this composition of the mint julep offers interesting insights into how the drink was brought together and why it works so well.
Fresh Mint
What makes the classic mint julep stand out is a balanced symphony of sweet, citrusy, tart, herbal and oaky notes, all of which come together in a harmonious flavour blend. What adds the signature crispy and herbal touch that has become synonymous with this drink is lots of freshly muddled mint leaves.
This minty flavour is essentially the first note that comes onto the palate upon tasting the drink. It provides an herbal effect which cuts through the more pronounced notes of the bourbon to lend the overall cocktail a crisper touch. When mint is muddled into the drink, it also releases oils that are subtly infused into the icy blend, imbuing it with more complex, peppery and bright flavours.
Premium Bourbon
The next integral ingredient while preparing the mint julep recipe is a good quality bourbon. This spirit has a lot of rich flavours and an oaky backbone with caramel-like and vanilla-infused notes. A hint of spice also comes forth in the American bourbon that is quite robust yet smooth enough to lend the drink a balanced flavour complexity.
Adding bourbon to a mint julep recipe introduces this richness into the drink which contrasts the more peppery notes of the mint. Together, bourbon and mint make for two opposing flavours which balance each other out, leading to a flavourful cocktail blend.
Simple Syrup And Lime Juice
Two ingredients that bind these individually robust cocktail elements in a unifying blend are simple syrup and lime juice. The acidity in freshly squeezed lime juice manages to cut through some of the more potent notes in the bourbon, toning its flavours down.
Simple syrup, for its part, avoids the taste of the mint leaves from becoming too overpowering and softens the bourbon’s edge. Brought together in small proportions, simple syrup and lime juice then manage to give the mix a rounded and complete flavour profile.
Ice For Chilling And Dilution
One of the major reasons the mint julep became a popular drink in southern parts of America is because it was served chilled in a region which experiences warm summers. Adding lots of ice is integral to the mint julep recipe because the blend is traditionally stirred and served on a bed of crushed ice in a rocks glass or highball glass.
This element is essential for controlling the drink’s temperature and for ensuring that it dilutes slowly so that its flavours evolve and deepen more and more as the ice melts. Evidently, adding just the right amount of ice becomes an important step while crafting a mint julep in such a way that each of its flavours can be highlighted when all varied ingredients are brought together.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
