BY MARIS CALLAHAN
If you’re in the mood to celebrate something, then you’re in luck, because today is the Kentucky Derby Day and Cinco de Mayo. If you’re not heading out on the town, you can make a delicious margarita or mint julep at home with a few simple ingredients – and two simple recipes.
If tequila is your poison, use the best quality tequila you can find for a smoother, more refreshing margarita (just be careful not to drink it too fast!). I love making margaritas a little bit lighter with organic sweetener and fresh lime juice instead of sugar or artifical sweetener.
For a mint julep, you can use a little bit of sugar to bring out the natural mint flavor, like they do at Elate, a delicious farm-to-table spot in the Hotel Felix. If you’re a traditionalist, make a simple syrup by boiling equal parts water and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Cool overnight or at least three hours. Substitute your simple syrup for the equal amount of sugar when it comes time to mix your cocktails.
Super Smooth Margarita
Serves 2
Recipe courtesy of Madhava Sweeteners
Ingredients:
3 parts tequila
3 parts lime juice
1 part Madhava Organic Agave Nectar
Directions:
Mix tequila, lime juice and Madhava Organic Agave Nectar. Serve over ice in margarita glasses.
Elate’s Mint Julep
Serves 1
Recipe and image courtesy of Elate
Crushed Ice
2.5 oz Buffalo Trace
1 tablespoon sugar
6 mint leaves
Muddle mint leaves and sugar, add bourbon. Let it sit for about a minute to let mint fuse with bourbon. Add crushed ice and stir till glass is frosted. Add more crushed ice. Serve with mint sprig garnish
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