Mint was first hailed as a digestive aid by the ancient Egyptians in 1550 BCE<\/a>; in the centuries that followed, the aromatic sprig was heralded variously for its (mostly imaginary) ability to prevent pregnancy, silence flatulence, and cure more than 40 different ailments\u2014as well as dress up lamb chops and make a great cup of tea. <\/p>\n But in the past half-century, mighty mint has been relegated mostly to the Personal Care aisle. Yes, mint is almost always available in the produce section, just begging to dress up your Greek salad or Asian stir fry. But a large proportion of the mint produced in the United States is used to create mint oil\u2014more than 5 million pounds of oil each year<\/a>\u2014and most of that, I’m certain, ends up in dentifrices, mouthwashes, and breath lozenges.<\/p>\n Today mint is less a food and more of a detergent.<\/p>\n Fortunately, it’s still one of the all-time great cocktail ingredients.<\/p>\n Mint probably made its first appearance in a bar glass as mere decoration. As Dale DeGroff writes in The Craft of the Cocktail<\/em><\/a>, “Mint for garnishing has been a part of the American beverage since colonial times, when it appeared in the first brandy and peach-brandy juleps that were a signature early-American drink.”<\/p>\n Today, the Mint Julep<\/a> is by far the most familiar mint-forward drink, thanks mostly to its long association with the Kentucky Derby. Residents of the Bluegrass State might not want to hear it, but the Julep probably originated in Virginia in 1770, although early versions used rum, not bourbon, as its base spirit.<\/p>\n Is it essential to shell out for silver or pewter cups, Kentucky’s signature serving vessel<\/a> for Mint Juleps? Absolutely not. We own a set, but they’re cheap knockoffs that seem to tarnish before we can finish our drinks. A highball glass works just as well. Besides, the sooner the Mint Julep is disassociated from the antiquatedness of horse racing and plantation culture, the better.<\/p>\n Runner-up for most-requested minty cocktail is doubtless the Mojito<\/a>, which is a mere youngster compared to the Mint Julep. The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails<\/em><\/a> traces the rum-based Mojito’s origins to early 20th-century Cuba but adds that the drink didn’t really become popular in the United States until the 1980s, where it trailed only the Cosmopolitan in popularity in bars.<\/p>\n Since then, the Mojito has been subject to all kinds of modification and enhancement. An Old Cuban<\/a>, for example adds bitters and substitutes champagne for seltzer, while a Gin Gin Mule<\/a> utilizes gin and ginger beer. And like its cousin the Daiquiri<\/a>, the Mojito lends itself to the incorporation of all manner of fruit, from strawberry and mango to pineapple and coconut<\/a>.<\/p>\n For me, the highest and best use of mint in a cocktail glass is in a South Side<\/a>\u2014a more aromatic take on the classic sweet-and-sour Gimlet<\/a>. I am, of course, strongly partial to gin as the base liquor, but as always the vodka lovers have their own, entirely legitimate version<\/a>.<\/p>\n Enjoy the minty freshness. And don’t forget to brush.<\/p>\n Adapted from The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique<\/em><\/a> by Jeffrey Morgenthaler<\/p>\n 10 mint leaves In the bottom of a Julep cup or highball glass, combine mint leaves with simple syrup and muddle gently. Add bourbon and stir. Slowly stir in crushed ice until cup or glass is packed, then mound ice on top. Garnish with mint sprigs, pushing stems deep into the ice. Serve with metal straw.<\/p>\n Adapted from Cocktails with a Twist<\/em><\/a> by Kara Newman<\/p>\n 6 mint leaves In a Collins glass, gently muddle mint and sugar. Add lime quarters and muddle to release juices. Add rum, stir, and add ice. Top with seltzer and garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/h3>\nMint Julep<\/h3>\n
\n1 teaspoon simple syrup
\n2 ounces bourbon
\nMint sprigs for garnish<\/p>\nMojito<\/h3>\n
\n2 teaspoons sugar
\n1 lime, quartered
\n2 ounces white rum
\nSeltzer
\nMint sprigs and lime wheels for garnish<\/p>\nSouth Side<\/h3>\n