Like certain foods, cocktails have their seasons. If I made eggnog for Fourth of July 4 people would look at me like I had a couple of screws loose, the cheese has slipped off my cracker, I don’t have both oars in the water or I’m a few bases short of a home run. Well, you get the picture.
Thus, certain drinks go only with certain holidays or special events.
OK, a nice tall and icy G&T goes well on most any warm summer night but I wouldn’t make eggnog for any day or season except for Christmas.
Don’t worry I am not two bricks short of a load, I do have a point to this. Mint Juleps. I would not make Mint Juleps any day except for Derby Day. Always the first Saturday in May. That would be next Saturday in case you are wondering.
I really like Mint Juleps but they just don’t taste right except on race day. I have tried them after Derby Day has come and gone, with the usual leftover mint simple syrup and bourbon, I often have. But they lose that certain Je ne sais quoi.
So, if you are a Kentucky Derby fan, don your hat and make a Mint Julep and see if it doesn’t taste just right for the big day. Oh, and watch the race, post time is at 6:50 p.m.
— LUCY
P.S. As you probably know, it is also Cinco de Mayo day, It may complicate the cocktail choices. Luckily Margaritas taste good in most seasons. I will be sticking with Juleps though.
Sorry to hear about your loose screws.
Happy to hear about your Mint Juleps.
I just discovered a nice twist on a G&T. It’s called a Rickshaw:
Make basil-infused simple syrup.
Puree some peeled and seeded cucumber.
The drink is the juice of one lime, 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of syrup, .5 ounce of pureed cuke and ice.
Fill a tall glass with the ingredients and stir.
And bet the farm on My Boy Jack in the Derby. Or a couple of dollars if you don’t have your screws loose.
— LOU