When you think of a mint julep, you probably think of the classic recipe with bourbon, simple syrup, crushed ice, mint, and just a splash of water.
During this year’s Derby on May 5th many a julep will be consumed. However, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, this year one Kentucky hot spot is doing a riff on the classic cocktail using tequila. Specifically, Patrón en LALIQUE: Serie 2, which retails for $7,500 a bottle.
From May 3rd through the 6th, Louisville’s Brown Hotel will be selling the Agave Julep, a cocktail highlighting two world-renowned ultra-premium spirits, Patrón en Lalique: Serie 2 and Old Rip Van Winkle 25-year-old bourbon.
The recipe includes aromatic Kentucky Colonel Mint, chocolate mint, a dash of chocolate bitters, key lime-infused caramelized demerara sugar and a house-made sugar rose garnish. And with two limited edition spirits inside (only 299 bottles of Patrón en Lalique: Serie 2 were created, and only 710 bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle 25-year-old were made), the cocktail also comes with a pretty hefty price tag: $1500.
The hotel says that “a portion of the proceeds of each cocktail sold will be donated to the Kentucky Humane Society’s (KHS) Equine C.A.R.E.(connect, assist, rescue, educate) Program. The program is dedicated to helping companion or recreational horses find relief and rescue from crisis situations,”
And if you can’t make your way to the Brown hotel to enjoy one during Derby weekend, it’s an idea that’s probably worth giving a spin at home…although perhaps with just a nice Añejo and some slightly less expensive bourbon.