cranberry mint julep
I’m willing to bet many of ya’ll have a bottle of cranberry juice still haunting your fridge from the holidays. I definitely do.
Which is why we’re using some of it up this weekend, pals.
Who else boasts a case of The Holiday Blues? I usually do for a good 2 weeks post-Christmas and post-birthday (thankfully, I still have cake to enjoy!) January often feels so empty to me, devoid of anticipation, although it does help that I’ve a marathon in February to look to.
Not to say that’s the festive brand of excitement, but it’s a big deal.
If you’ve got a bit of sparkle left in you, try out this Cranberry Mint Julep. It’s light and refreshing, yet warming thanks to bourbon and still a bit holly jolly from plenty of cranberry juice. A little something to quell the sads and channel a little seasonal magic back into the day.
Minty Fresh
The classic julep is a combination of simple syrup, mint leaves, and bourbon. To spice it up (literally) we’re making an infused brown sugar syrup to pair with that tangy cranberry addition.
In a small saucepan, heat brown sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, a whole clove, and a star anise pod until the sugar dissolves. Pull off the heat and steep about 10 minutes, then discard the solids. Unused syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, so it has a nice shelf life.
Make sure to use your favorite rocks glass for this drink, preferably one with a nice pattern or perhaps a gold rim. Grab your muddler and smash mint leaves and a bit of the syrup, then stir in the bourbon and cranberry juice.
Top with lots of crushed ice, give the drink another stir, and finish with an embellishment of cranberries and mint leaves. Easy as pie that you probably have leftover from Christmas!
That’s all for today, friends! I’m hunkering down into recovery mode and hopefully rising up out of the fog into some type of excitement for the months upcoming. We’ll get there!
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
The bourbon vibe:
Sweater Weather Buttered Bourbon Cider
cranberry mint julep
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 whole clove
- 1 star anise pod
- 2 oz bourbon
- 4-5 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- fresh cranberries and mint leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Heat over medium until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Move the pan off the burner and drop in the cinnamon sticks, clove, and anise pod. Steep 10 minutes. Discard the solids and let cool slightly.
- In a rocks glass, muddle 1/2 oz syrup and the mint leaves. Stir in the bourbon and cranberry juice. Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir again. Garnish with mint leaves and fresh cranberries, as desired.
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