Porch Swing Julep (Bourbon) - (21+)

Fire & Ice: Porch Swing Julep

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By the Fire

There’s nothing more Southern than a mint julep. Silver cups, crushed ice, fresh mint — it’s the Derby in a glass. But here’s the truth: I don’t need a horse race to drink one. I need a porch, a warm evening, and a chair that leans back just right.

Now, most juleps are sweet, clean, and gone too fast. Add smoked mint syrup, though, and it slows the whole thing down. That little touch of smoke doesn’t shout. It leans in, whispers against the sweetness, and suddenly the drink feels less like a quick refresh and more like a story worth staying up for.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon

• ½ oz smoked mint syrup (mint leaves simmered in sugar/water, kissed with smoke)

• Crushed ice

• Fresh mint sprig

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PitMaster’s Way

Step 1 — Build the Base

Muddle smoked mint syrup at the bottom of the glass.

Step 2 — Pack the Ice

Fill the glass high with crushed ice. Pour bourbon over the top.

Step 3 — Garnish with Style

Slap a mint sprig between your palms to release oils, then set it tall in the glass. Sip slow.

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Hosting Notes

✦ For flair: Serve in a frosted metal cup — it sweats and shines in the heat.

✦ For garnish: Tuck a second sprig of mint in for color contrast.

✦ For elevation: Float a few dashes of bitters on top for spice against the sweetness.

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Pitmaster’s Pour

Want to drive it home? Take a fresh mint sprig and wave it just over smoldering oak or hickory before you tuck it in the drink. That aroma hits the nose before the bourbon hits the tongue. It’s not a julep anymore. It’s a night on the porch after the pit’s gone quiet.

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From the Porch

The Porch Swing Julep belongs to hot afternoons when the sun refuses to quit and shade becomes your best friend. Glasses sweat on the table, the ice clinks like wind chimes, and the breeze carries the smell of ribs steadying on the pit. Kids drag chairs closer, neighbors wave from the fence, and the swing creaks a rhythm that matches the slow sip. Sweet, minty, with just a brush of smoke — it’s the taste of summer stretched long and easy.

 

These recipes are intended for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States; please follow the laws in your region). Fire up the grill, not the driver’s seat. Stoking the Coals encourages moderation, community, and safe enjoyment of food and drink. Please never drink and drive, and always respect your health, your guests, and the law.