May is rich in holidays: this month marks both World Whiskey Day and Mint Julep Day, one of the oldest refreshing bourbon-based cocktails. We decided to combine these two occasions and recall some cool twists based on Irish whiskey and Scotch that are easy to make at home.
Mint Julep
This summer cocktail in its classic form appeared in Kentucky back in the 19th century. It turned out that whiskey goes well with the rich aroma of mint, and its sharpness and strength are delicately smoothed out by sugar syrup. This is how the southern United States got its own version of the refreshing mojito. Mint julep is included in the International Bartenders Association’s list in the “Modern Classics” category, and it is customary to serve it in a metal cup of the same name. But we will make do with a classic thick-bottomed glass.
- Add 10-12 fresh mint leaves, 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons of water to a rocks or old fashioned glass and thoroughly mash the mint with a muddler or any wooden pestle until the sugar dissolves.
- Fill the glass to the top with crushed ice.
- Add 60 ml of whiskey and stir gently.
- Garnish the cocktail with a sprig of mint.
Mint julep
Peach whiskey smash
Another variation on the refreshing whiskey and mint cocktail, only this time the freshness is turned up to the max — it contains fresh peaches and lemon juice. Such summer mixes allow you to look at seemingly brutal whiskey in a new way: as if a serious man in a business suit lit up at a foam party.
- Add 2 peach slices and 3 lemon slices to a shaker or any convenient container with a lid and mash them with a muddler to release the fruit’s juice and aromas.
- Add 30 ml of Liqueur de Curacao Bleu Joseph Cartron and stir with a spoon.
- Add 5 mint leaves and 60 ml of whiskey, close the lid, and shake the contents of the shaker well.
- Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the contents of the shaker into it through a strainer.
- Garnish with a peach slice and a sprig of mint.
Whiskey Sour
Another resident of the International Bartenders Association list, but now in the “Unforgettable” category. Indeed, this sweet and sour refreshing cocktail is hard not to love, easy to make, and impossible to forget.
- Add 45 ml of whiskey, 25 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 20 ml of sugar syrup (water and sugar mixed in equal parts), and, if desired, 20 ml of egg white to form a foam to a shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously and strain the contents of the shaker into a cocktail glass, rocks glass, or old fashioned glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice, if desired.
Godfather
A classic spicy cocktail based on Scotch whisky and amaretto. Just two ingredients and plenty of room for experimentation: those who prefer a mild taste and the distinct sweetness of almond liqueur will enjoy a 1:1 ratio, while connoisseurs of smoky Scotch notes will prefer 2:1. But in both cases, the result is a balanced digestif for every day.
- Fill an old fashioned glass with ice.
- Add 50 ml of Scotch whisky, 50 ml of Amaretto Liqueur d’Amaretto Joseph Cartron and stir gently with a spoon. Another variation for a more pronounced whiskey flavor: 50 ml of whiskey and 25 ml of amaretto.
Stiletto
The Italian name Stiletto accidentally hints at the perfect season for making this cocktail. The glass contains an intoxicating summer mix of spices, the sweetness of almonds and vanilla, gentlemanly noble wood, and the ringing acidity of citrus fruits. The main ingredients are Irish whiskey, amaretto again, and lime juice as a supporting ingredient.
- Add 30 ml of whiskey, 30 ml of Liqueur d’Amaretto Joseph Cartron, 15 ml of freshly squeezed lime juice to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the shaker is frosted.
- Strain the contents of the shaker into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge if desired.