In honor of the first Saturday in May …… Any Kentucky Derby fans out there? Hope about bourbon lovers? This cocktail is for you if so. I know the Mint julep is the Derby’s signature cocktail, but this one is so much better and can still call itself a Julep.

Ingredients :

1 cup green tea, cooled (I used a excellent Fortnum & Mason Long Jing Green Tea)

1 cup fresh squeezed peach nectar

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

6 oz bourbon (I used Woodford reserve here, but will be divided as a shot per glass into 4 glasses)

Garnish (had to use mint leaves to keep with tradition)

Directions :

Brew green tea, allow to cool then assemble all the other ingredients. For the peach nectar, I slice a peach into quarters, remove pit, muddle and then strain the juice. Add tea, peach and lemon juice to a pitcher with ice and stir vigorously. Fill 4 cocktail glasses (can add a large ice cube if desired) with a shot each of bourbon (1.5 oz is standard but some of us have a heavy pour). Pour the juice mixture from the pitcher to fill (about 5 oz each), garnish and serve.