With Cinco de Mayo clashing with the Kentucky Derby this weekend we see an opportunity to do a couple of cocktail mashups. The first up is the Cinco de Mayo Mint Julep.

It used to be that you’d order a julep and get a gin cocktail, so don’t get all in a bunch about not using bourbon. Mezcal has a wonderful smoky and woody quality and if you avoid the unfiltered cheap stuff, you’ll do a lot better. A couple of these ingredients may be tough to find but make do with obvious substitutes.

The Cinco de Mayo Mint Julep

3oz. Mezcal
8 mint leaves
Cane Sugar
Sugar cane swizzle

Muddle the mint leaves and cane sugar with 3 oz of mezcal pour over cubed ice. Add a cane swizzle and sip.

It’s simple. It’s different and you can kill two birds with one cocktail. Next up – The Derby Mint Margarita.