OK, since you tb people have mint juleps as part of the culture, I figured I had to try one. There must be something to it.
We made them recently. Um - gruesome ! :dead: We then poured the two of them down the sink. They were basically a somewhat sweet whiskey taste with a touch of mint.
If you can handle it, great, but I think that is what you’d call an acquired taste.
Years ago I had a Kentucky Derby party, with mint juleps as the main attraction. We were all screwing up our faces upon sampling! :lol:
Definitely had to add more water and sugar syrup, then retreat to wine!
Ohhhh SC I so agree. I went to my one (and only) Derby at Churchill in 2010. Bought myself the requisite Mint Julep in the $7 glass and never got even half way down it. God awful.
Now I do have the glass still. But man… not my favorite.
I’ll take a Black Eyed Susan anyday, but juleps… no thanks. If it has to have mint I MUCH prefer a mojito.
~Emily
Y’all must not have been making them right!
Make simple syrup with 1 part water and one part sugar (heat in small pan to dissolve sugar and then let cool).
Muddle mint and crushed ice in shaker. Add bourbon. Shake.
Strain bourbon into rocks glass with ice and 1-3T of simple syrup (depending on taste). Garnish with more mint.
Yummmm. I have already check my mint patch out back and it has come in nicely for the juleps this year!
I want to like them…
…have tried many times to like them.
…have not been successful.
After several attempts, following the recipe carefully and having NO ONE like them at my Kentucky Derby parties, I started making a drink with Triple Sec, bruised mint, simple syrup (to taste–not always needed) and rum. I call it a California Julep. (Maybe “Cuban Julep” would be a better name). Much better for parties, and since I have bourbon, simple syrup and mint leaves on hand, I can always make the real deal if requested… this has never happened. I will try animaldoc’s recipe though, because my Mint Julep recipes don’t call for more than a tablespoon of simple syrup. Maybe if I made it sweeter I would like it better.
The trick is to get the first one down…after that the others go down smooth! 
They are nasty and I’ve never found anyone who actually likes them, even here in Louisville. And I got mine (one and only) at Churchill, so I’m sure it was made correctly. :dead: :lol:
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