Race Day Ready: The Perfect Cocktail to Celebrate Kentucky Derby

If there's one iconic union that ever was, it's the Kentucky Derby and the mint julep. Just thinking about the big day gets me giddy.... up! Had to... hehe. Don't get me wrong, I love the traditional mint julep, but sometimes you've got to switch it up to something a little more next level. I am loving Bank & Bourbon's Jersey Julep recipe because it's not only unique, but its tantalizing ingredients blend perfectly with the mint sprigs for a cool, refreshing and certainly potent sipping experience! Viewing party with one of these in hand, anyone? 

Cheers to this year's Kentucky Derby!

JERSEY JULEP

Ingredients:

 1 oz. Applejack Brandy

1 oz. Rittenhouse Rye

Dash Benedictine Liqueur

3 sprigs mint

½ oz. pear syrup

Directions:

To make pear syrup combine equal parts sugar and water and cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add 1 sliced pear and let sit for 1 day. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to separate pear from syrup. 

Rip off bottom half of mint and briefly muddle in copper mug with pear syrup. Add liquors and fill ½ of mug with crushed ice. Agitate with bar spoon until half melted and fill to mound until full. Garnish with mint sprigs and lime or sliced pear.