Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes | Serves: One

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ounce superfine sugar
• 1 ounce hot water
• 7 mint leaves plus one mint sprig
• 1 1/2 ounces Cognac
• 1/2 ounce Rye

Directions:

1. In an old-fashioned glass or julep cup, dissolve sugar in water.
2. Add mint leaves and press lightly with a spoon.
3. Add spirits, fill glass with finely crushed ice and stir.
4. Poke a straw and mint sprig into julep and serve.

Notes:

If you live in the South, this is just something you should know how to do. Plus, everyone likes giving julep cups as a graduation gift.

This recipe is adapted from David Wondrich. First published in Harper’s Monthly in 1857, where Mr. Wondrich wrote that this was “the tastiest mint julep recipe I know.”