Raise A Glass To The Kentucky Derby With These Mint Juleps - With A Twist

Celebrate the most exciting two minutes in sports on Saturday, May 1 with these mint juleps – with a twist.

Ballotin Chocolate Mint Mule:

1.5 oz. Ballotin Chocolate Mint Whiskey

3 oz. Ginger Beer

Dash of Bitters

Lime Wedge, for garnish

Directions: Pour Ballotin Chocolate Mint into an iced mule mug. Top with Ginger Beer and a dash of bitters. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Cherries & Cream Julep:

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon

.5 oz. Cherry Juice

Half a Vanilla Bean Pod (cut into small segments)

1 tsp. Powdered Sugar

Mint Sprig, for garnish

Cherry, for garnish

Vanilla Bean Pod, for garnish

Crushed Ice

Directions: In the julep cup, add .5 oz cherry juice. Add half a vanilla bean pod cut into small segments. Add 1 tsp. of powdered sugar. Muddle or mix together. Add crushed ice to 2/3 of the cup. Add 2 oz of Woodford Reserve. Top off the cup with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig, real cherry, and vanilla bean pod.

Buchanan’s Spring Fling Julep:

1.5 oz. Buchanan’s Special Reserve

1.5 oz. Cantaloupe Juice

.5 cup Cantaloupe Melon Chunks (blended until smooth, then strained yields about 4 oz. juice)

1 Sugar Cube

8 Mint Leaves

Crushed Ice

Melon Balls, for garnish

2 Mint Sprigs, for garnish

Directions: Muddle mint and then .5 oz cantaloupe juice and sugar in the bottom of your cup. Add ice halfway up your cup then add 1 oz whisky and another .5 oz cantaloupe juice, stir until cup is chilled. Fill cup to overflowing with ice, and drizzle the remainder of the whisky, then cantaloupe juice over the top. Garnish with mint sprigs and melon balls.

Blackberry Mint Julep:

2 oz. Middle West Michelone Reserve Straight Bourbon

4-5 Fresh Mint Leaves + extra for garnish

1 oz. Blackberry Simple Syrup*

1 Blackberry, for garish

Directions: In the bottom of a serving glass, add torn mint leaves and blackberry simple syrup. Gently muddle to release the oils from the mint. Fill the remainder of the glass with crushed ice and pour in the Michelone Reserve bourbon. Stir to mix and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint and a blackberry. *(Blackberry Simple Syrup: Combine one part water, one part sugar, and one part blackberries in a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Allow the syrup to cook until the blackberries have broken down. Strain into a glass container and refrigerate when not in use.)