Mint margarita: Toast both the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo

By Patricia Calhoun Thu., May 3 2012 at 7:56 AM

Mint "margarita" -- really.

Two of Denver's best occasions for drinking -- the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo -- will collide on Saturday, May 5. The traditional drink of the Derby is the mint julep, of course, and margaritas are always flowing during Cinco de Mayo.

But rather than have to declare your alcohol allegiance, it's possible to combine the cocktails of these two unofficial holidays -- if you don't mind a major culture clash -- and toast them with a Mint Margarita.

There are numerous mint margarita recipes; this one comes from the August 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine:

Fresh Mint Margaritas

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
4 cups crushed ice
1 1/2 cups good-quality tequila
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 8 limes)
1 cup Triple Sec

Directions
In the bottom of a large (2-quart) pitcher, crush together mint and salt, pressing with the back of a wooden spoon. Add ice. Add tequila, lime juice, and Triple Sec, stirring vigorously. Serve in short tumblers or wineglasses.

Optional: Try to use the leaves of mint "margarita," a perennial in the mentha species that officially merges the two traditions.

Happy holidays!

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Tags:

Cinco de Mayo, Kentucky Derby, mint margarita

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TheVodkaParty

Is the Mint Julep the “Peeps” of cocktails? “Peeps” arethose sickeningly -sweet, baby chick-shaped marshmallow treats only seen inEaster Baskets on Easter Sunday. For the other 364 days of the year they are activelyavoided. Think about it, Mint Juleps are sweeter than most cocktails and aregenerally only imbibed on one Saturday in early May. On the other 51 Saturdaysevery year, some other – any other – cocktail is the drink of choice, even inLouisville. You be the judge. Here arefour vintage Mint Julep recipes: http://thevodkaparty.com/the-m...

rain

Easier version of recipe:

1. Dump mint leaves and salt into a margarita

2. Throw that mess away and make regular margaritas instead

Salting the rim of your glass is one thing, but tossing the salt *into* the margarita? Who does that?

Mantonat

It's only a half teaspoon of salt for what looks like enough liquid for at least 4 drinks - probably just enough salt to enhance the flavor of the ingredients.So mint with rum in a mojito is good and mint with whiskey is good in a julep but somehow mint with tequila is disgusting? Why not try it before passing judgment (unless you just don't like mint, in which case I'm not sure why you'd even read beyond the headline).