Latest Drink Recipe
I’ve you’ve never made - or enjoyed - a mint julep before, be sure to check out this post, with lots of information from myself, and videos from the real experts.
In the bottom of a 10-12 oz glass (or a silver julep cup, if you’ve got one on hand) gently muddle together:
12 mint leaves
¼-½ oz simple syrup
Add to this mixture:
2 oz bourbon
Stir to combine ingredients, and fill glass with finely crushed ice. Garnish with the prettiest mint sprig you have, and serve.
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About Me
My name is Jeff Morgenthaler and I'm the head bartender at Bel Ami in Eugene, Oregon.
I'm 36, I've been tending bar for 12 years and writing about it for 5. Mixing drinks has become something of a passion for me in recent years, and I strive to elevate the experience of having a drink from something mundane to something more culinary.
The writing I do here is intended as a work in progress. My recipes are like my opinions: they are constantly being revised and refined as I work them through my mind and my fingers. Comments and participation are encouraged, so please don't feel the need to tread lightly here.
11 Mar 2008 at 6:44 am 1. Rory
They definitely don’t age, but (rarely) they may be oxidised or corked; a tasting class with Chivas brand ambassador Darren Hosie brought this to attention. So that Scotch on the shelf for twenty years may in fact be vinegar.
Strange but true - although Mr. Hosie made the comment a bottle of Scotch rarely lasts long enough in his home for that to occur - hear hear!
11 Mar 2008 at 8:21 am 2. Keef
Bottles are also more likely to oxidize if they’ve been opened and then left for a long time. Figure an open bottle has more air in it. Keep in mind I have yet to experience this first hand (as you say, bottles don’t last long enough for me to find out!). Sealed bottles will likely last as long as you’ll ever need.
11 Mar 2008 at 3:36 pm 3. Lance J. Mayhew
I’ve actually tasted tequila that oxidized. It was the worst stuff I’ve ever had.
12 Mar 2008 at 1:32 am 4. nd
This reminds me of something I’ve wondered about: why doesn’t anyone try aging gin for a few years in barrels? Has someone already tried this without telling me?
12 Mar 2008 at 1:40 am 5. Jeffrey Morgenthaler
nd:
Some gins are indeed aged in oak barrels. Genever or Dutch-style gins are often aged for a year or more, and Seagram’s gin is reportedly aged for a few months.
Jeffrey
12 Mar 2008 at 9:49 am 6. Keef
theScotchBlog had an interesting article talking about a similar subject: does the alcohol in a bottle vaporize as the level of liquid gets lower and lower (and thus more air is in the bottle enabling more alcohol to “evaporate.”
http://www.thescotchblog.com/2008/03/www–the-weaken.html
12 Mar 2008 at 10:10 am 7. keith waldbauer
i would think another way of putting this is that liquor doesn’t age WELL in the bottle… it doesn’t improve with age like wine.
12 Mar 2008 at 1:48 pm 8. Dane
Hey bartender,
What about fresh squeezed juice and simple? I squeezed up a bunch o’ limes and lemons, and made up some simple, but had a bunch left over. How long will it keep in my fridge?
12 Mar 2008 at 6:22 pm 9. Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Dane
I wouldn’t let fresh juices go for more than a day or two, but simple syrup should last a week or more in the fridge. Try adding a splash of vodka to your simple to ward off mold.
15 Mar 2008 at 4:02 pm 10. Keith
I typically keep Clear Creek pear and plum brandies for a couple of years before opening them. I find that they smooth out and the fruit aromas improve with the additional bottle aging.