The bourbon sample used for this review was provided to us at no cost, courtesy of the respective company.
It is the first National Bourbon Day for The Bourbon Flight and our friends at Beam Suntory were kind enough to send us over a bottle of Basil Hayden to use in their Classic Mint Julep.
Here in Kentucky, the weather is hot, like take-your-breath-away hot. So, I was looking forward to sitting down and sipping on a cold, refreshing cocktail.
The cocktail was refreshing — full disclosure, I am not a huge mint fan so I did not use a lot of leaves, just enough to get the flavor.
Once again, the bourbon was the star of the drink. The spice and pepper of the bourbon immediately hit my taste buds, followed by the sweetness of the simple syrup, which pairs perfectly.
To my surprise, I craved a little more mint, which was my fault. I fixed this error when making my wife’s refreshing cocktail.
Overall, Basil Hayden’s Classic Mint Julep delivered on its website’s promise “of a cooling summertime favorite.”
The only negative I could give this cocktail is that not everyone has the proper ice. The proper finely crushed ice is important because it allows the drink to flow thoroughly through the lips and hold its consistency longer. Crushed ice from a refrigerator melts too fast and waters down the cocktail quickly.
Here is the recipe that I used provided by Basil Hayden which you can find on their website https://www.basilhaydenbourbon.com/cocktails/classic-mint-julep
INGREDIENTS
- 2 parts Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1/2 part simple syrup
- Fresh mint leaves
METHOD
- Add all mint and syrup to a julep tin cup or rocks glass
- Gently muddle mint to express the oils
- Add crushed ice
- Pour Basil Hayden over ice
- Stir thoroughly
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
