Did you know that Mark Twain once lived off Mint Juleps for an entire year? 

Being from Oregon and not being a big horse racing fan. I never really drank mint juleps until this summer when my mint plant decided it owned my garden and claimed the small plot of land for itself. So the obvious solution was to hack off a bunch and make some cocktails with it. 

Classic mint juleps are made with white sugar or simple syrup made with white sugar, but I found that making simple syrup with brown sugar gives the cocktail a slight caramel taste. 

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Water

1. Add both ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Make sure the sugar granules have melted.
2. Let cool. Add to a container for future use in cocktails.

Brown Sugar Mint Julep

• 9 fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
• 1 shot Bourbon
• 1/2 cup crushed Ice

1. In small glass or a mint julep glass (if you have one, I did not) muddle the mint leaves together with the simple syrup.
2. Add the bourbon. Muddle a little more.
3. Fill the glass with crushed ice. TIP: use a food processor to crush your ice!
4. Enjoy! Better yet, enjoy irresponsibly!

Bonus bee pic! Just hanging out on some mint.