^{From Dale DeGroff the author of "The Essential Cocktail"}

MINT JULEP
signature drink of the Kentucky Derby

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz. simple syrup or one teaspoon sugar
• 4 mint leaves and a sprig of Mint (Use tender, young sprigs)
• 2 1/2 ounces Bourbon.

Preparation:

Prepare some very cold very dry powdered ice with large cubes of Kold Draft ice and a canvas ice bag. Bruise the mint leaves in the bottom of a julep cup with sugar or sugar syrup and then remove the muddled leaves. Add ice to the three quarter mark and half of the bourbon. Stir to chill the julep cup. Top off with more powdered ice and the remaining bourbon and continue to stir until the outside of the cup begins to freeze. Garnish with the mint sprig and set aside to rest while the julep cup freezes over on the outside. Pick up carefully and imbibe.