In the race for best cocktail of the season, the Kentucky Maid really cleans up the competition.
Chances are that “maid” is a category of cocktails you’ve never heard of (at least we certainly hadn’t). And chances are that’s because the category is only about 15 years old. It was only 2005 when legendary NYC bartender Sam Ross first mixed the Kentucky Maid and basically launched the entire category. Ross is also responsible for major modern cocktails like the Paper Plane and the Penicillin, so creating a whole cocktail category is just another day at work for him.
The Kentucky Maid is a crazy combination of spring and summer flavors that makes it a crisp, dangerous way to quench your thirst. The drink begins with muddled cucumber and mint – an easy cocktail combination that’s usually only found in gin and vodka-based drinks. The cocktail is then rounded out with bursts of citrus, a dash of sugar, and a big glug of bourbon. It’s awfully hard to argue with that combo.The Kentucky Maid was such a big success that it quickly launched a few other variations: The Old Maid (gin based) and the Irish Maid (Irish whiskey based). We’re sure all the maids are merry, but the bourbon-based Kentucky Maid is all we need on a crisp spring or summer afternoon.
Kentucky Maid
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Muddler
- 1 Rocks Glass
Ingredients
- 4 slices Cucumber (divided)
- 6 leaves Mint
- 2 ounces Bourbon
- 1 ounce Lime Juice
- 1 ounce Simple Syrup
Instructions
- In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, gently muddle 3 slices of cucumber together with 6 fresh mint leaves.
- Add in 2 ounces of Bourbon, 1 ounce of lime juice, and 1 ounce of simple syrup.
- Fill with ice and shake until well chilled.
- Finely strain the mixture into a Rocks glass filled with ice. This will remove any bits of mints or cucumber seeds.
- Garnish with a slice of cucumber and/or sprig of mint.
