It’s February! And honestly, that has very little bearing on this tasty drink I’m about to make, aside from the fact that if I make a mint julep at noon on a Wednesday, I’ll forget about the fact that 2016 is already going by way too quickly for my comfort. It also means I’m one month closer to some family holiday and my Italian mother laying on the guilt that she doesn’t have grandchildren yet.
This month’s drink is inspired by Theresa Romain’s A Gentleman’s Game. It’s the first in a new series about horse racing and breeding. If you haven’t checked out Redheadedgirl’s squee-worthy review, definitely give it a read!
I really don’t know if I’d describe myself as a horse girl. We had horses for a time and they’re fun! But I will still never forgive our American Quarter Horse, Lady, for stepping on my toes at every damn chase she got. I also remember having to trudge into the pasture to slather one of our other horses down with sunscreen or else she’d get sunburned. She was a gorgeous pale white Paint Horse with light tan markings (a Medicine Hat), though don’t be swayed by my memory of her looks. She was stone cold evil.
What I really love about the horse world is all the pomp and circumstance and it is my dream to attend the Kentucky Derby and catch some enigmatic, rich man’s eye with my superb fancy hat selection. I’m quite fond of this one:
And what drink is synonymous with derbies? A mint julep.
But I didn’t want to do a plain mint julep because, while tasty, where’s the fun in that?
I really love the cover of A Gentleman’s Game: the blue pastel dress, the riding crop, the challenging look on the heroine’s face. However, I recently used blueberries in December’s Covers & Cocktails and I wanted to give another fruit a chance. My family’s acreage had a lovely crop of wild blackberry bushes, but if you know anything about picking blackberries, you know they’re a pain in the ass because of all the thorns and brambles. Which is so damn fitting given the heroine, Rosalind.
In short, Rosalind has had a pretty crap lot in life and I thought it was a nice comparison, wading through all these painful thickets to get to the fresh berries.
Not only do you get a tasty drink recipe, but the wonderful people over at Sourcebooks offered to giveaway a copy of the book and a drink set to make your own cocktails! I highly suggest you make a strong glass of our blackberry mint julep, or as I’m calling it, an Off to the Races, and enter the giveaway below!
Shopping list:
Bourbon (preferably a wheated bourbon over a rye bourbon)
Mint
Blackberries
Simple syrup (sugar and water)
Berry flavored seltzer water
Proportions:
2 oz bourbon
2 oz seltzer water
1 oz simple syrup
1/3 cup blackberries
3 sprigs of mint
Recipe for simple syrup:
- I make my simple syrup in a 1:1 ratio.
- Take one cup of water for every one cup of sugar and pour it into a pot. Increase the amounts as needed.
- Stir the mixture regularly under medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved. You don’t want the water to boil or simmer.
- Pour into a jar or other container to let cool in the fridge. I tend to make big batches at a time, so I always have it on hand.
Directions:
- Put your blackberries and mint in your shaker or some other container. Muddle the shit out of them. If they aren’t breaking down as quickly or as much as you like, add some sugar!
- Add your liquid ingredients. Make sure there’s a lid and shake!
- My shaker has a built-in strainer, but I’d advise finding some way to strain the mixture into your glass.
- Garnish with blackberries and mint to your liking.
Modifications and notes:
- You can make the simple syrup ahead of time. I usually tend to make a big batch of it and keep it in the fridge. I actually had this leftover from our very first Covers & Cocktails that I used with the Bourbon Lemonade.
- I tend to go easy on the mint flavor in my julep because I find that it can get overwhelming at times. However, if you want a stronger mint flavor, toss some mint in when you’re making your simple syrup, just be sure to strain the leaves out when you go to store the liquid.
- Wheated bourbons aren’t as spicy as rye bourbons, which is why I chose it. Though if you want more of a kick of heat, try a rye bourbon!
- You can definitely forgo the seltzer water or just use plain instead of flavored. I just wanted more berry flavor and a little bit of fizziness to it.
- I didn’t make a ton because I tend to stuff my glass with an obnoxious number of ice cubes. Vary the proportions as you see fit!
- Just a drinking note: I often toss a few blackberries into the glass as well because a burst of boozy fruit is the best way to finish off a drink.
Now to the really good part! We have one copy of A Gentleman’s Game to giveaway, plus a bartending set!
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and tell us what you’d name your champion racehorse! The giveaway will end Sunday, February 7, 2016 at noon, EST, so get your comments in before then!
Standard disclaimers apply. We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to US/Canadian residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and prepared to design your own rose blanket and derby hat to win. Mind the thorns and sewing needles, but remember that beauty is pain, especially if you want a hat with bangers and beans on it.
UPDATE February 7, 2016:
And the winner is: Jane Drew with the awesome name of Friday on the Couch.
Thank you all so much for your thoughtful and hilarious horse names! I definitely recommend that you read though them all when you have the chance.
Name a champion horse? Hah! If it belonged to me, it’d lead the race only to drop dead before the finish line. Not after mind you, but before. Because that’s how my luck rolls. So I’ll go with Cat’s Fat Chance, as that’s exactly what it would be.
Although the drink looks interesting, I hate blackberry seeds and would strain that through a fine mesh. But first I’d have to get the bourbon.
Martie Gras after my sweetie!
Taught me something I didn’t know – I’d assumed that bourbon was like whisky (i.e. made with barley) and now I know it’s not! Maybe barley isn’t such a commonly grown grain in the USA? It’s an animal feed grain here, and it’s actually excellent for feeding to horses – puts weight on, like oats, but without heating the horse up in the same way.
And I can’t enter the competition, because I’m not USA/Canada based, but I’d call my champion racehorse Hammersmith, because every time I go past on the tube I always think it’d be an excellent name for a horse.
@Squimbelina: Bourbon and its relative Tennessee whiskey (i.e. Jack Daniels) is made from a mash of at least 51% corn, with the balance consisting of wheat, rye and/or barley. Bourbon is the best-known of the American made whiskeys, although there are also a number of rye brands. Most of the barley based whiskey sold here is Scotch, though there are single-malt craft distilleries.
This looks so tasty. I love new mixes to do with bourbon and Buffalo Trace is the good thing. Names are so hard but I think I’d name a horse On the Fly.
This is actually really hard to do, I have too many ideas and trying to pick from serious to punny and this one feels strong.
Well, I don’t know much about good racing horse names, but I am a Shakespeare nerd. I might have to name my horse My Kingdom For…
I think I’d go with “The Wind” so that commentators could delight themselves whenever they could work in a terrible “run like The Wind” pun
“Chance in Hell” would be my pick.
This series just seems right up my alley. NEver got to have much to to with horses as a kid, but I adored the “Thoroughbred” book series.
As for what I’d name a racehorse; I’d probably try to work in something mythological. Maybe “Sleipnir’s Rival,” as if my horse could kick the ass of the eight-legged mount of Norse Mythology.
“Unconquered Heart” would be my choice.
While my inner 12 year old would think naming the horse something you’d snicker hearing hundreds of people scream (“Go Thunderbutt, go!”), I think my adultish self shall prevail and go with The Flash or Turnip. I think it would also depend on the temperament and coloring of the horse, though; that’s always a factor when I name my cats.
I’m a weird Kentuckian as I’m not a big fan of bourbon OR horses. I’ve worked with horses and goats, and horses end up so dumb in comparison. Also you can generally manhandle a goat, with the exception of one 200lb pink male we had who occasionally uprooted small trees.
I’d probably name a horse Money Pit.
PS Sandra thanks for setting the bourbon record straight. I may not be a big fan of it, but after an archaeological dig at a distiller’s house (On the property of Woodford Reserve) and working with serious bourbon enthusiasts I know plenty of trivia on the subject.
River Music.
Probably something that sounds hilarious when mentioned during the race, but nothing is coming to mind, or something obvious like Zephyr.
My horse would be War Eagle to win, place, and show!!!
Sassy Travelin’ Gal
I’d name it Sweet Arse, just because I’d love to hear the announcer say that – teehee!
My horse would be named Lucifer so that everyone would know to be afraid he would win 🙂
I was never into horses, so the first horse-related thing that popped into my head was the hunting scene from Mary Poppins, and therefore: “View Halloo”. But if that’s already a horse’s name, then I’d push the boundaries of horse naming and go “Viewwww Halloooo!! Oh, Yes, Definitely! A View Halloo! …View Halloo?”
I’ve never really been big into the horse racing, but I do catch some of the craziness on TV when they show it 🙂 Ummm… I’d name my horse Will Win cuz it’s best to be optimistic, yes?!
I would go with “Most Awesome Miss Kick Your Butt”. (Because she would definitely be female). Mam for short.
Thunderstorm that’s what I’d name mine. I like that it sounds fierce and charged and it’s a very potent name for a horse
My millionaire cousin and his wife attend the Kentucky Derby every spring. She always wears the coolest hats and includes a picture in their Christmas letter or card.
I keep the ingredients for mint juleps (and mojitos) on hand. I’ll have to try your recipe, Amanda, when the blackberries come in. I have a thornless variety in my backyard as I also spent hours picking berries and getting scratched as a kid
In a nod to the fate of too many racehorses, I would name my champion Rescue Me.
Oooh, champion racehorse!! Fancy Tickler? Purple Prose? America the Bodicefull??
Can I just say that I love the opportunity here to use a pony of liquor in my Off to the Races!
Fiddle Dee Dee
Fancy Pantaloons LOL
Misty. I was utterly horse-crazy in elementary school and read and re-read Marguerite Henry’s books. Always wanted a horse named Misty.
I’ve been to the Derby several times. (But no, I didn’t go last year…THE YEAR to have gone!) We will be back this year and I’ve been searching for a hat for a few weeks now! It is fun, but oh so crowded. Picture 165,000 (two or three Super Bowl’s worth) of fans packed into Churchill Downs. Hat-watching is wonderful. The mint juleps are grand and yes, they are served in commemorative derby glasses. It’s interesting to see you added blackberries to your recipe. Blackberries are the garnish for the Oaks Lily, the vodka-based official drink of the Kentucky Oaks–the big race for fillies, run the day before the Derby.
What gets to me every year is singing, “My Old Kentucky Home” before the race. It’s such a moving experience. In a nod that, I’ll name my champion horse My Kentucky Tiger. Thanks for the post and giveaway.
Well I learned something today, I always thought Mint Juleps had cream in them.
I like that expression related to dog sledding, something like “unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.” Not sure how I would shape that into a name, maybe just go over the top and say Eat My Dust.
I would name the horse Trail Blazer.
I would name my horse- FiftyShadesOfHay 🙂
This drink sounds quite tasty! I’ve spent (wasted?) A lot of time trying to think of names for rodeo rough stock, ski runs, and nail polish colors. I never thought about race horse. Maybe Double Barrel? Midnight Flyer (if it’s a black one). Oh, Dark Horse. That might be fun in an election year.
Hmmmm. Hot-to-Trot
or maybe Frida
Fleabag. I would name the champion Fleabag. Cause who would put money on Fleabag, and then the odds would be great and we would make a fortune!
Pokey (I really prefer “Gumby”, but that makes even less sense).
I’d name my race horse Lord Dain and call him Lord Beelzebub behind his back. The recipe is awesome and with a small adjustment I can incorporate my obsession with red raspberries. Well, I’m off to finish my upcoming blanket design. Thanks bitches!
I do believe I’d name my racehorse Kats Colorado Champ (because Colorado is so not known for thoroughbreds)…
great prize,
I would have to name him Sebastian Ballister. Because horses are high strung, much like my beloved Lord Dain.
i would name my horse, hmmmm, let’s see. i would name him, Duchene’s Black Stud.