Recipe

• 2oz brandy (you can try anything from bourbon to apple brandy!)
• .25oz blueberry syrup (Royal Rose)
• Bunch of mint and sage

Grab a few leaves of fresh mint and sage and place them into a cup. Add the syrup and very gently tap your spoon against them inside a glass to release some of the oils without completely pulverizing them. Add the brandy, a bit of crushed ice, and give it a quick stir. Top off with more crushed ice and a nice bouquet of mint and sage. Drink with a straw closely placed within the herb bush so you get a nice aromatic whiff with each sip.

About

It’s not derby day, but tomorrow 5/30 is National Mint Julep day, are you celebrating?! Mint Juleps are a refreshing twist on an Old Fashioned, replacing bitters with fresh mint and adding a pile of crushed ice. It’s not citrus-y, just barely sweet, spirituous and oh so energizing. With such a minimalist ingredient list of spirit, sugar, and mint, it’s easy to make fun tweaks!

One simple idea is to try different sweeteners. Here I’m using the delicious artisanal Maine blueberry syrup from Royal Rose Syrups! To pair with the blueberry, I’ve also subbed in brandy for the typical bourbon and added in a few sprigs of fresh sage.