61 / 104
The BonVivant's Companion
fancy drinks
JULEPS
The Julep ispeculiarlyan Americanbeverage, and in the South
ern states is more popular than any other. It was introduced by
Captain Marryat into England, where it is now quite a favorite.
The gallant captain seems to havehad a penchant for the nectar-
eous drink, and pubhshed the recipe in hiswork on America. We
give it in his own words: "I must descant a little upon the mint
julep, as it is, with the thermometer at loo degrees, one of the
most delightful and insinuating potations that ever was invented,
and may be drunk with equal satisfaction when the thermometer
is as low as 70 degrees. There are many varieties, such as those
composed of claret, Madeira, etc., but the ingredients of the real
mint julep are as follows (I learned how to make them and suc
ceeded pretty well): Put into a tumbler about a dozen sprigs of
the tender shoots ofmint; upon themput a spoonfulof white sugar
and equal proportions of peach and common brandy, so as to fill
it up H or perhaps a little less; than take rasped or pounded ice,
and fill up the tumbler. Epicures rub the lips of the tumbler with
a piece of fresh pineapple, and the tumbler itself is very often
encrusted outside with stalactites of ice. As the ice melts you
drink. I once overheard two ladiestalldng in the next room to me,
andoneof themsaid, 'Well, if I have aweakness for any one thing,
it isfor amint julep!'—avery amiable wealoiess, provingher good
sense and good taste. They are, in fact, like the American ladies,
irresistible."
ACTIVE friendship: May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty.
[61 I