Ever since reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil many, many years ago I have been mildly fascinated with Mint Juleps.
It was an minor detail in a story filled with lots of fascinating characters. BUT to this day I don’t remember anything about the book, except the Mint Juleps and that Savannah is filled with crazy people.
In my mind Mint Julep’s are synonymous with porch swings, moss covered trees and warm evenings…sigh.
So yeah. I created a whole life in my brain around a cocktail. Bad news.
But here’s what happened. I actually ordered a Mint Julep while out one night. Dude. I hated it. HATED.
My dreams of a life of southern simplicity squashed because the damn drink tastes horrible.
That’s what happens when you base your life around alcohol. Tough lesson people.
I decided not to give up on the dream, though. Perseverance is basically my middle name.
I made a cocktail that the Mint Julep in my dreams tastes like.
How smart is that?
What I came up with is a Sparkling Spiked Lemonade.
Light, fizzy, and ice-clankable.
Go ahead, make a pitcher.
Sparkling Spiked Lemonade
3 cups Lemonade
2 cups Club Soda
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup rum or vodka
mint sprigs or lemon wedges to garnish
Mix Lemonade, Club Soda, zest and rum or vodka into a pitcher.
Serve in a Tom Collins glass over ice.
Garnish with mint or lemon wedges.
I think I had the same reaction to a mint julep (and I’m 100% SOUTHern! I live 45 mins away from Savannah, lol)- in fact, it’s very un-Southern of me that I don’t enjoy any kind of brown liquor. This sparkling hot-weather drink you have here looks delicious, though! Def gonna try it, thanks!
LOVE your version! And it looks pretty too. Can’t wait to try it this weekend and speak with a decidely southern accent.
I was glad to hear you had tried a mint julep before because I didnt want to have to be the one to burst your bubble. I live in Louisville, Ky and at Derby time everyone talks about the mint julep like its the best thing in the world. Well lets just say my first experince with the julep ended up with the $10 drink the trash. YUCK! This drink sounds more like my thang
Thats my kind of mint julep! Soo making this for my hubby while he does yard work this weekend (alcohol is one of the great motivators
)
I have never had a mint julep much to my dismay. I love everything mint and I also love brown liquor. I think I may take your sparkling lemonade, add some Tennessee Honey, a sprig of mint and see where that takes me. Hopefully it will take me out to the front porch (no swing-boo) to speak with my decidedly already southern accent. (although it is a Southern Arkansas Redneck accent not a fabulous Savannah, Georgia accent!)
I saw Martha Stewart make a Mint Julep on her TV show. The man who owns Maker’s Mark (I think it’s bourbon) showed her his recipe. It is to die for. Soooo good. I’ve never had a Mint Julep in a restaurant or friend’s home so this is the only one I’ve tried. I loved it! I’m sure that the recipe is somewhere on line just google it. But I’m happy with lemonade, too.
This sounds really refreshing!
I have also been disappointed with the Mint Julep! However, I LOVE lemonade and cocktails with a tiny bit of fizz, so this drink looks amazing to me!
I made this last night and I LOVE it! Thank you!