KENTUCKY COOLER

Kentucky Cooler image

Provided by James Briscione

Time 1h35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Brown sugar-bourbon seasoning, such as McCormick's Brown Sugar-Bourbon Seasoning, for rimming glasses
1 Meyer lemon, sliced into wheels, plus 12 ounces fresh lemon juice (peel reserved for Meyer Lemon Simple Syrup, recipe follows)
8 ounces Meyer Lemon Simple Syrup, recipe follows
16 ounces bourbon, such as Marker's Mark
Tonic water, for topping off drinks
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Zest of 2 Meyer lemons, removed in strips with a vegetable peeler
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

Place the seasoning mix on a small plate. Rub the rims of 4 rocks glasses or mason jars with one of the lemon slices, then dip into the seasoning mix. Fill the glasses with ice.
Fill a pitcher halfway with ice cubes. Add the lemon juice, Meyer Lemon Simple Syrup and bourbon. Stir until thoroughly chilled.
Pour the cocktail into the glasses and top each with a splash of tonic. Garnish each with a mint sprig and some lemon wheels. Serve immediately.
Place the lemon zest in a heatproof bowl. Combine the sugar and salt with 2 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the boiling mixture over the lemon peels and let steep 20 to 30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.