The Story Behind The Sparkling Rose Julep
There are a lot of ways to make a Julep.
The Kentucky Derby favorite reportedly made its first written appearance in "Travels of Four Years and a Half in the United States," an 1803 page-turner dedicated to then-president Thomas Jefferson. The drink became associated with the races in 1938, when it was sold in commemorative glassware at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
A classic Mint Julep has a simple formula — whiskey, sugar, mint, muddle — making it suitable for riffing with different spirits and mixers. This version pairs Four Roses bourbon with dark rum, two types of bitters, rose water, and liqueur. A bubbly Cava float makes it particularly festive.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Four Roses bourbon
- ½ ounce Plantation dark rum
- ½ ounce Jacoulot Crème de Peche de Vigne
- ½ ounce mint-infused simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 dashes Regans orange bitters
- 4 drops rose water
- Cava top
- Mint sprigs and rose petals for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients except Cava in a Julep cup with crushed ice.
- Stir with a swizzle.
- Top with Cava and add garnishes, if using.
