Okay, folks, let’s talk about how I messed around and (sort of) made a “Kentucky Derby Eye” today. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, that’s how we learn, right?
My Little Mixology Adventure
So, I’ve been seeing these fancy Kentucky Derby cocktails all over the place, and I thought, “I can do that!” I’m no bartender, mind you, but I like to experiment.
First, I grabbed a bottle of bourbon. I’m not picky; whatever’s on hand works for me. I think it was some mid-shelf stuff, nothing too crazy.
Then, I needed some sweetness. I didn’t have any fancy simple syrup, so I just used regular sugar. I dumped a spoonful into a glass – yeah, I eyeballed it, no measuring cups here!
Next up, the mint. I had some fresh mint growing in a pot outside, so I snapped off a few sprigs. I muddled them – which basically means I squished them – at the bottom of the glass with the sugar. I probably didn’t muddle it enough, to be honest. It looked a little… chunky.
I poured in the bourbon, maybe a couple of shots’ worth. Again, I just eyeballed it. Don’t judge!
I needed some ice. My fridge makes those crescent-shaped ice cubes, so I tossed a handful of those in.
Finally, I topped it off with a splash of club soda. Just a little bit, to give it some fizz.
I gave it a stir with a spoon, and… well, it wasn’t the prettiest drink I’ve ever made. The mint was kind of floating around, and the sugar probably didn’t dissolve all the way. But, you know what? It tasted pretty good! Like a sweet, minty, bourbon-y kind of good.
- Bourbon: Whatever you’ve got.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar works.
- Mint: Fresh is best, if you have it.
- Club Soda: Just a splash.
- Ice: Any kind will do.
It wasn’t perfect, like I said. It definitely didn’t look like those fancy bar versions. But, for a quick, thrown-together drink on a random day? It did the trick. Maybe next time I’ll actually measure things and use proper simple syrup. Maybe.
