Cherry Mint Julep Slushies.
You know… the day when cocktails are rare? Or maybe they are more common than normal? Whatever.
There’s a reason.
It’s because: you can make this… and store it in your freezer… and take a few spoonfuls every single night this week. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. It’s like a total treat. You can consume it all at once or you can take a few tastes (yeah right) to wind down from the day.
And if I’m really being hopeful I will pretend that you’re reading this before work/school/life begins today, that you have everything on hand, and that you’re mixing it together as we speak (read?) so it will be readily available come 5PM. I will love you forever.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but this guy I live with thinks the Kentucky Derby is kind of a big deal. Like – life-altering big deal. He tracks the horses for an entire year leading up to the Derby and does related horse stuff like every day of his life. I guess it’s his hobby or something, and that’s fine… I just wish I was cool enough to be invited somewhere so I could place something ridiculously obnoxious on my head while wearing a dress and seven inch heels.
But I’m not soooooo… I tend to get extremely annoyed hearing about horse racing. I hear about it every single day of my life. I fall asleep while watching Bridesmaids for the 80th time on HBO and wake up to a horse race. We won’t splurge monthly for an extra movie channel, but we do have a channel dedicated to only horse racing. They have commentators and everything. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s my husband’s dream job.
So this is what I do on Derby day: drink mint juleps. I mean, the Derby itself is super exciting, even though I tend to get absurd anxiety attacks in suspenseful situations as such. But did you know that there’s like, a billion other races BEFORE the Derby? So yeah. That day calls for multiple mint juleps. This WEEK calls for multiple mint juleps. You have to prepare or… train, if you will. Get ready!
Cherry Mint Julep Slushies
serves 2 generously
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
15 fresh mint leaves + more for garnish
3/4 cup bourbon
3 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
To make the mint simple syrup: Add sugar and 3/4 cup water to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat just until it bubbles. Turn down to low for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit for 15-20 minutes until cooled. Remove mint.
Finely chop remaining five mint leaves. In a large measuring cup/bowl, combine bourbon, simple syrup, remaining water (1/4 cup) and cherry juice. Pour in a baking dish, then stir in chopped mint leaves. Freeze either overnight or for 6-8 hours, then scrape with a fork or spoon and place in a glass. Garnish with additional mint.
For granitas, add 1/2 cup more water, reduce the bourbon by 1/4 of a cup, and freeze overnight then scrape with a fork.
Note: if you are disgusted by my use of cherry juice in a mint julep, feel free to leave it out! Additionally, if the chopped fresh mint freaks you out, you can add whole leaves to the mixture and remove them before serving.
Oh and by the way I’m unofficially declaring this put-booze-in-your-recipes week because I, uh… accidentally on purpose and unapologetically did that to four recipes you’ll see this week.
90 Comments on “Cherry Mint Julep Slushies.”
bring on the booze!!! :)
Happy boozy week then! It looks incredibly refreshing!
Ohhhh, Girl you are dangerous!! This looks amazing!!! Amazing!! Gosh what a wonderful refreshing summer drink! Yum!! I’d eat the whole thing, why share?
YES! I so needed this yesterday while sitting on the patio instead of my iced tea. This is definitely perfect summer time treats!
I know what I’ll be serving the drinking folk for Memorial Day!
What’s that? A cocktail waiting for me in my freezer at the end of the day? I’m on it.
YUM! This is going to be a fun week! ;-)
I wish they served these at Churchill Downs! I will be at The Oaks on Friday and The Derby on Saturday, but I won’t be wearing any 7″ heels, LOL. I love living in KY, the events leading up to The Derby are awesome and our town loves to party. So who is your husband liking for The Derby?
Thanks for asking, Jennifer R. I offered my analysis up to Jess but I’m pretty sure she quit listening as soon as I started talking. :)
Union Rags is training like a beast. I think Bodemeister is overrated. It’s not about the horse that is geared up from January through April. It’s about the horse that is ready to run to its peak on that first Saturday in May.
I think my exacta and trifecta bets will include only those horses coming back from the Breeders Cup Juvenile race with UR on top.
your blog is my favorite, and this pretty much confirms that.
You are funny! And I want to make this this afternoon even though it’s only a Monday and stuff…why not? It looks yummy and it’s the first day of sun over here!
The Derby is such a fun party to have, lots of drinks and great food!
Hmm so we can make something like this for lots of diff cocktails right?? I’m thinking greyhounds (grapefruit and vodka) would also be amazing (not a bourbon girl).
Yes I think it will work, as long as there is some water in it to help it freeze?
Hey Jess –
Ok, I’m only asking you this because you have earned the “Queen of Trader Joe’s” badge – so, sorry, my question has absolutely NOTHING to do with cherry mint julep – BUT… I’m taking the 2 1/2 hour drive to the nearest Trader Joe store shortly – I make about 3 trips a year. However, what are your top 5 (or more) things that I REALLY NEED and must have on the grocery list?? Thank you – you are the Queen, ya know….
I’m curious what Jess said as I too want to go to Trader Joe’s badly!!
She never answered, but if she does, I’ll try and look this post up and copy and paste it – it is so far to go, but it is always so worth it. Last time, I got their pesto chicken breasts – they were VERY good!
Okay, I am HORRIBLE at picking favorites. I honestly can’t do it and if I was asked my favorite song, movie, show, etc… I have no answer. I literally love everything I buy at TJ’s and find their products to always be superior to the ones I get in other stores, and it also depends on what I need at the time. I’m assuming you can only buy non-perishable things? I’d definitely get the cookie butter, strawberry joe’s o’s (cereal), sweet chili sauce, blue corn chips and any salsas. This is only what I can think of off the top of my head, so it could change any minute, but I also love the peanut butter pretzels, blueberry flaxseed, vanilla extract, maple sugar, tricolor quinoa, lite coconut milk, yogurt pretzels, lentil chips, any of the popcorns, poundplus chocolate bars, mini pb cups, choc covered pom seeds, choc covered sunflower seeds… I could go on and on. Below are my posts of TJ’s stuff that I love… I haven’t added too much new stuff to the list which is why I haven’t done a post recently:
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/10/i-went-to-the-trader-joes/
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/01/saturday-trader-joes-run/
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/06/my-favorite-place/
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/a-trip-to-trader-joes/
What a perfect drink!! I love mint juleps and adding cherry takes it over the top!
As a Kentuckian, I love mint juleps – these look great!!
I am going to need a mint julep after this week…or maybe now! I’m not going to lie, I would love, love, love to wear a pretty obnoxious looking hat on my head while donning a super cute dress and atleast 4-inch heels, but seriously, who wants to sweat in that…my make-up would probably be ruined. Plus, I’m allergic to horse hair, and although I love watching horses, getting any where near them and I need 4 cups of benadryl to knock me out!
Innnnteresting. I’m not a huge bourbon fan (I know, I’m going to be kicked off this comment section just for saying it!) but I bet a virgin version of this drink would be pretty dang good as well!
So pretty! This sounds completely refreshing. Love the slushie idea…already imagining it in different forms…perhaps a whiskey sour slushie. Also…I know nothing about horse racing, so I’ll take what I DO understand about the Derby and run with it. That would be big hats, bourbon, and derby pie.
How could anyone be disgusted by the chopped mint? It’s like mint juleps meet mojitos! Love.
LOL! I had no idea there was a channel dedicated solely to horse racing!! Too funny.
Oh but there is.
It’s my favorite drink, made over to taste like a better version of a Sonic cherry limeade!! Holy heck, I love ya!
You’re more than welcome at our Kentucky Derby Party but we’re all the way in Philadelphia :)
What a fun recipe!!
This is so what I need on a Monday. Now someone hand me a straw!
For this scorching Texas weather, I could definitely use a few of these! They look so icy cold and delish!
This sounds so refreshing! I can’t wait to try this when it starts to warm up around here in the great north haha
ooooh, this looks gooooood.
I used to go to horse races with my dad. I think it’s funny how fancy schmancy the Derby is because no other horse race I’ve seen if anything near fancy or schmancy. Perhaps your drink would shee shee up some of those places, it’d work for me!
This looks delicious and refreshing. I bet on the derby once, I just picked the names I thought were funny or cute! Haha. 0=)
I really think drinking improves Mondays! #suddenlymyfavoritedayoftheweek
Love the mint and cherry combo. Looks delicious and pretty too.
Your posts always make me smile!!! This recipe is great and I love the idea of taking a spoon or two or three every night!! :)
Oh man, this made me laugh out loud. I’ve been following your blog for a while, but recently went vegan so it’s become painful to read some of your recipes (*cough* brie and chocolate!! what!?) and not be able to make them. BUT! I still read because you are hilarious, AND, sometimes things end up being vegan. Like this recipe. Which I’m planning on making tonight.
Cheers,
Laura
I love that you accidentally on purpose and unapologetically put booze in the recipes. It’s Cinco de Mayo week, it’s springtime and spring fever has hit and this is a great kickoff drink!
bring on the Derby & mint juleps! I need to get my Derby hat ready for Saturday…which is ALSO Cinco de Mayo!
This looks amazingly refreshing!!! Can’t wait to make it :)
booze in the recipes week sounds amazing…done!
I’ve never heard of mint juleps before…where have I been?!? I’m with you on not getting the whole horse racing thing, but if it’s an excuse to have an amazing drink like this, it can’t be so bad :)
I feel like one (a few) of these would really make watching a horse race more appealing!!
There is no way this would last more than one day in my house.
I’m a Kentuckian and I’ve never gone to the Derby. It’s going to be too muddy for heels this year anyway and hot as Hades.
You may be interested in two of the videos from a Louisville news station at the link below. One is for Proof on Main’s version of Eggs Benedict and the other is how to dress for Derby. It is titled “Fashion Consultant Jo Ross on Derby Hats”. There are a few other food videos but these are the only ones that I’ve seen. :)
http://www.wdrb.com/category/231883/kentucky-derby
Bring on the drinks!! Your husband does related horse stuff and you just horse around…har har! (I think we are twins)
So, I love alcohol. Not in a “I need AA” sort of way…I went to brunch yesterday and didn’t have a single mimosa (or other alcoholic beverage), after all. But I’m so excited to try this. Also, I love cute dresses and high heels and can’t wait to get married so that I feel like its okay for me to wear big hats to church (somehow, that seems like something only “real adult women” do). I may put on a hat and sit on my balcony drinking this. I’ve never had a mint julep, but I’m a big mint fan and I’m super excited to try this. Bring on the week of boozie recipes!
Everyone is going crazy for fruit-herb combos lately! Loving it!
This sounds perfect for a Monday night. Looking forward to the other boozy yummies this week.
I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a slushie than with alcohol! :-D
I went to New Orleans for the first time this summer and besides making sure we tried the gumbo, jumbalaya and beingets, we were sure to try the mint julep. Wonderful, wonderful drink! Next time we do girls night, we’ll be making your slushy version!
How funny, your husband sounds just like my fiance. As soon as he starts talking horses my eyes glaze over and I just nod. But it’s ok, since he does the same thing when I talk about design. Love this idea! Now I have a reason to (semi) participate in race days… he’ll love it!
This.looks.delicious. I was not on board until I saw that you used maraschino cherry juice… hello! I would be eating this in a bowl like a dessert. Dangerous!
Oh, my friend, I thank thank thank you for this! What a great cocktail recipe…
OMG! You are OFFICIALLY my HERO!!!! I was JUST telling everyone in the world that it’s Mint Julep weather! THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!!! (where’s my bourbon!?!?!?!)
amazing! ha-YES…offically booze week it is then. :)