Skip to main content

Peabody Mint Julep

The grand lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis is called “the living room of the South,” for good reason. It’s the best spot in town to sink into a comfy lounge chair, sip a cocktail, and watch people, or the occasional parade of ducks, come and go. Their bracing mint julep is justifiably famous.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves a crowd

Ingredients

1/3 cup water
2/3 cup sugar, plus more for garnish
2 bunches fresh mint leaves, roughly torn and bruised, plus additional sprigs for garnish
One 750ml bottle Maker’s Mark whiskey

Preparation

  1. Bring the water, sugar, and mint leaves to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat and simmer briefly, stirring, until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool the syrup completely, then strain it into a large pitcher. Add the whiskey, and stir to combine. Serve immediately in chilled julep glasses with crushed ice and fresh sprigs of mint, for garnish. You can also return the whiskey/syrup mixture to the empty whiskey bottle and freeze overnight. It will freeze to a nice slushy consistency for serving on scorching afternoons.

From Down Home with the Neelys by Patrick and Gina Neely Copyright (c) 2009 by Patrick and Gina Neely Published by Knopf. Patrick and Gina Neely are owners of Neely's Bar-B-Que in Memphis and hosts of several Food Network shows, including the series Down Home with the Neelys, one of the highest-rated programs to debut on the popular Food Network. High school sweethearts who reconciled at their ten-year reunion, they have been married since 1994. They live in Memphis with their two daughters. Paula Disbrowe collaborated with Susan Spicer on Crescent City Cooking and is the author of Cowgirl Cuisine.
Read More
Sticky-sweet mall-style bourbon chicken gets a fall makeover.
A fancy-feeling dish that comes together in 20 minutes.
Fall dreams are made of this. Who are we to disagree?
Known as okayu, this Japanese comfort food will warm you from the inside out.
A few clever changes take classic Rice Krispies Treats to soaring new heights.
The Thanksgiving staple makes for a stellar weeknight dinner.
A sheet-pan wonder with lots of crispy rice.
A fam-favorite, 30-minute dinner we have on repeat.