This Kentucky Maid Cocktail recipe brings a burst of fall flavor! It's the perfect drink for warm spring nights with bourbon, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber and fresh mint.
Prep time:
1 minute
Mixing time:
1 minute
Servings:
1
Calories:
197
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 cucumber slices
- Ice cubes
- Extra mint leaf and cucumber slices - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Muddler
- Cocktail Strainer
- Fine strainer
- Old Fashioned Glass
- Measuring Jigger
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice cubes. Give it a stir to chill it and set it aside.
- Muddle Cucumbers: In your shaker, add 2 cucumber slices and 1 oz fresh lime juice. Muddle well to extract the flavor from the cucumber.
- Add Mint: Put 6-8 fresh mint leaves into the shaker.
- Add Simple Syrup: Add ¾ oz simple syrup.
- Add Bourbon: Measure and pour in 2 oz Bourbon into the shaker as well.
- Shake: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
- Strain: Take the Old Fashioned glass and use the cocktail strainer to remove any excess water inside. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, strain the shaken drink into the ice filled glass.
- Garnish: Garnish with cucumber slice(s) and a mint sprig and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon, rye whiskey or brandy can work as substitutes. They will alter the flavor profile slightly but still create a delicious cocktail.
- Fresh Lime Juice: In a pinch, lemon juice can replace lime juice, though it will make the drink a bit more tart. If you don’t have any fruits on hand, bottled juice can be used as well although the final result won’t taste as fresh as with freshly squeezed juice.
- Simple Syrup: You can easily make simple syrup: simply mix together one part hot water and one part sugar and stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved. Otherwise, agave nectar can substitute for simple syrup if needed. Remember to adjust to taste, as this sweetener is often sweeter than simple syrup.
Making a Pitcher of Kentucky Maid:
- Scale: To make a pitcher serving 8, multiply all ingredients by 8. That's 16 oz of bourbon, 8 oz of fresh lime juice, 6 oz of simple syrup, 50-60 mint leaves, and 16 cucumber slices.
- Mix: In a large bowl, place the cucumber slices and fresh lime juice. Muddle the cucumber slices to extract the flavor. Smack the mint leaves between your hands and drop them into the pitcher as well. Add the simple syrup and bourbon, stir well, and let it sit for 10 minutes for the flavors to infuse. Then, using a large fine strainer, strain the mixture into a pitcher.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled Old Fashioned glasses, garnish with an extra mint sprig and cucumber slice, and serve immediately. You can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days, preferably stored in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute. Several brands are available that mimic the flavor of bourbon without the alcohol. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also make your own bourbon substitute by infusing together rooibos tea and a bunch of spices of your liking (vanilla and cinnamon are always a good way to start). Mix all the ingredients together, add hot water, cover, and let it infuse for at least 3h (the stronger the better, so if you have time let it infuse overnight. In that case, you can either let it rest in the fridge once the liquid has cooled down). Give it a taste, adjust the spice level if necessary, and strain it once you’re happy with the result. Stored properly (in an airtight container in the fridge), this “tea-whiskey” can be kept for up to a week.
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of regular bourbon, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Kentucky Maid cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including Bourbon, are vegan-friendly. However, some brands may use animal products in their production process, especially if a filtration process is involved. Always check the brand's website or contact them directly to ensure their products are vegan.What is a Kentucky Maid Cocktail?
A Kentucky Maid Cocktail is a bourbon-based cocktail made of fresh mint, cucumber slices, simple syrup, and lime juice. This refreshing drink is not complicated to make at all. The most time-consuming part might be muddling the cucumber with the lime juice to release its flavors, but even that only takes a few minutes. It’s a variant of the classic Mint Julep, another bourbon-based cocktail famous in the South. What makes the Kentucky Maid unique is its use of cucumber, which adds an unexpected twist and lightness to the drink.
What is a Kentucky Maid Cocktail made of – The ingredients
To whip up a Kentucky Maid Cocktail, ensure you have these ingredients:
- Bourbon: This is the base spirit of the Kentucky Maid cocktail. It provides a rich, full-bodied flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Adds a tangy citrus element to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Simple Syrup: This sweetener helps to mellow out the lime juice’s tartness and enhances the cocktail’s overall flavor profile.
- Fresh Mint Leaves: These are used for whole into the drink and shaken alongside the other ingredients, releasing their aromatic oils to give a refreshing, herbal note.
- Cucumber Slices: They add a crisp, fresh taste and a unique twist to this classic cocktail.
