Pineapple mixes well with just about all spirits, adding sweetness and strong flavor to almost any cocktail you concoct with it. Here at the Consumatorium, we love using pineapple for all kinds of drinks and infusions, especially in the summer. So, it’s no surprise that while enjoying a Mint Julep the other day, I thought about how good one would taste with the addition of pineapple juice. My goal was to not only make a great variant of the classic Mint Julep, but also to create a drink for those who like their cocktails a bit less boozy. After some experimentation – it didn’t take a lot – I came up with a terrific tasting drink that can be enjoyed by one and all with slight variations. As with most new cocktail creations, it turns out that this is hardly unique. That said, it’s worth reading on to check out our suggestions on how to mix this drink to best fit the guests you are serving.
Pineapple Mint Julep Recipe
- 2 oz Bourbon (I used Bulleit)
- 1/4 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
- 2 oz Pineapple Juice
- 5 Mint Leaves
- Mint Sprig for Garnish
While you certainly can use a separate mixing vessel for this drink, it is best prepared in the glass you will serve it in. Pour the simple syrup into the glass and add three mint leaves. Very gently muddle the leaves in the syrup with a muddler or a spoon. The reason you want to go gently is that the veins of the leaves contain chlorophyll and chlorophyll is bitter. Bitter doesn’t belong in this cocktail, so gently press down on the leaves and give a slight twist. Don’t crush ’em.
Fill the glass about 2/3rds of the way with crushed ice and add the Bourbon and Pineapple. Now, take the two remaining leaves, put them in your palm and slap them. Yes, that’s what I said. Again, you don’t want to mess with the chlorophyll. You’ll be amazed at how strong the minty aroma from the leaves is by (mis)treating them this way. Lay the leaves on the drink, you want the person drinking your cocktail to get a nose full of the mint. Finally, add a sprig of mint leaves for show.
Making the drink according to this recipe results in a slightly boozy cocktail in which the taste of the Bourbon comes proudly through. If you’re looking for a less boozy tasting variation, just increase the simple syrup to 1/2-3/4 oz (that’s total, not incremental). You can increase the pineapple instead or as well, of course, but then the pineapple taste completely dominates everything else in the drink.
By the way, if you want to take this drink from great to mind-blowing, replace the simple syrup in this recipe with Mint Simple Syrup. It requires a little more preparation, but it’s totally worth it if you have the time.
Why You’ll Like the Pineapple Mint Julep
A bit sweet and incredibly flavorful with options to make as a true Bourbon-forward drink or a lighter cocktail. What more could you want? It’s a lighter take on the Mint Julep, bringing even more summer into what already is a summer drink.
