Five Spirits Best for Mint Juleps
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According to the company that bears his name, Evan Williams became <a href="http://www.evanwilliams.com/theman/" target="_blank">Kentucky's first distiller</a> in 1783. Regardless of whether this is true or not, there's no question that Williams' whiskey has made its mark: today, it's the second-highest selling whiskey in Kentucky, and is among the fastest-growing brands. In terms of flavor, it has a light, relatively sweet taste that mixes well in cocktails. As the <a href="http://www.lawhiskeysociety.com/whiskey_list.php?brand=&dist=&order=name&asc=ASC&page=2&f_records=100&f_alpha=E&f_reset=1&f_a_reset=1&f_multiple=0&f___type=2&f_subtype=0&f_member=0&f_added=0" target="_blank">L.A. Whisk(e)y Society</a>, a rating group, notes, "I would take Evan over his competitors Jack and Jim. He tries harder."</p>
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Old Grand-Dad may be among the most inspirational bourbon on the market. It has been name-checked in songs by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpzqQst-Sg8" target="_blank">George Thorogood</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZJPffuZZVA" target="_blank">Lynyrd Skynyrd</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUBxLRN88fE" target="_blank">Hank Williams Jr.</a>, as well as in books by George Pelecanos, John Hawkes and Cormac McCarthy. And its fans extend beyond literature and music: President Harry Truman and Penn State coach Joe Paterno were both famously devoted to the bourbon. Unfortunately, while its reputation has survived for decades, Old Grand-Dad's flavor hasn't quite kept put with the times: it makes a decent julep, but has a somewhat astringent tone that partially explains why it was allowed to stay in business as a medicinal whiskey maker during Prohibition.</p>
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Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/indyplanets/4479638781/sizes/s/in/photostream/" target="_blank">MrJasonWeaver, Flickr.com</a></p>
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If you want a bourbon that proclaims your edginess, look no further than Rebel Yell, a company that has worked hard to position itself as the outsider brand. Its name alludes to a <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/What-Did-the-Rebel-Yell-Sound-Like.html" target="_blank">high-pitched holler</a> that Confederate soldiers would make when charging into battle. In keeping with the theme, the whiskey wasn't distributed outside of the South until the early 1980s.<br />
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Most importantly, though, Rebel Yell is a favorite of some of Rock and Roll's most famous outlaws. Keith Richards is a big fan, and Billy Idol's song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPwZaQfoIbU" target="_blank"><em>Rebel Yell</em></a> was based on a night spent drinking the bourbon with Richards and Mick Jagger. But when it comes to flavor, the famed rebel is something of a pussycat: it is made with a large amount of wheat, which gives it a light, slightly sweet taste that might be appreciated by meeker drinkers.</p>
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For 25 years, mint juleps made with Early Times have been the <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/early-times-mint-julep-named-120000037.html" target="_blank">official drink</a> of the Kentucky Derby, despite the fact that the popular whiskey isn't actually a real bourbon. Officially, bourbons need to be aged in new oak barrels, but Brown-Forman, the company that makes Early Times, uses old barrels to age the whiskey. For purists, though, the company recently started producing "Early Times 354," a classic bourbon. Regardless of which spirit you choose, though, Early Times mixes nicely with mint and simple syrup, and offers a Kentucky Derby authenticity that you won't get from any other bourbon!</p>
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Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamaki/5672280/sizes/s/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Tamaki, Flickr.com</a></p>
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Most bourbons are made in Kentucky, but Virginia Gentleman, one of the most popular low-priced brands, is made in nearby Virginia. Some argue about whether or not it qualifies as a true bourbon, but the fact that the basic distillate comes from Kentucky soothes some raw feelings. Regardless of its origin, however, several reviewers have noted that the triple-distilled whiskey is the clear winner when it comes to flavor!</p>
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Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfyurasko/4003414292/sizes/s/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Wfyurasko, Flickr.com</a></p>
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As with any other Southern food, there are thousands of Mint julep recipes, and afficionadoes endlessly argue over whether theirs is the true interpretation of the classic. Personally, I like the version developed by <a href="http://cocktailbuzz.com/Cocktail_Buzz/Buzzed/Entries/2010/4/28_The_Mint_Julep_%7B_paired_with_lamb_meatballs_%7D.html" target="_blank">Cocktail Buzz</a>:<br />
<strong>MINT JULEP</strong><br />
2 ounces bourbon<br />
1/4–1/2 oz. simple syrup<br />
8 spearmint leaves<br />
shaved or crushed ice<br />
spearmint sprig<br />
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Muddle leaves gently in simple syrup in a julep cup or similar glass. Add bourbon, then shaved ice all the way up to the top. Stir. Garnish with a mint sprig. Toss in a straw, if desired.</p>
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