Home Bar Project: How to Make a Kentucky Maid

Have you ever dreamed of having an amazing home bar, filled with bottles you actually use and the tools you need to execute a fine crafted cocktail? Enter the Home Bar Project. Through this series we are going to take this challenge piece by piece. We’ll teach you the proper techniques and make sure the spirits you purchase aren’t collecting dust on your back bar.

About the instructor:
Dan Lan Hamm is a craft bartender at 1 Tippling Place in Philadelphia. He was Pennsylvania's winner of Bombay Sapphire and GQ's Most Imaginative Bartender Competition in 2014. He runs Spirit Forward, a cocktail-centric group which caters local events and provides educational workshops.

This week: How to Make a Kentucky Maid

The “Maid” is another amazing family of cocktails that is versatile with just about any spirit. It was coined by bartender, Sam Ross, in 2005 and its name changes based on the spirit used and where it originates. I.E. “Kentucky” maid is bourbon, “French” maid is cognac, etc. The fresh mint and cucumber work exceptionally well with either gin or bourbon, but get creative and try making your own “Maid” with any spirit you have on hand.

Ingredients:
Cucumber
Mint
Fresh squeezed lime juice
Simple syrup
Bourbon
Ice

Step 1 of 10:

Cut 3 thin slices of cucumber

Step 2 of 10:

Add a pinch of mint

Step 3 of 10:

Add 1 oz of fresh squeezed lime juice

Step 4 of 10:

Muddle ingredients

When muddling mint and cucumber, a gentle push is all you need.

Step 5 of 10:

Add 3/4 oz of simple syrup

Step 6 of 10:

Add 2 oz of bourbon

Step 7 of 10:

Fill shaker 3/4 with ice

Step 8 of 10:

Shake lightly

A lighter shake is fine here since the cocktail is served on ice.

Step 9 of 10:

Double strain on fresh ice

Step 10 of 10:

Garnish, placing the mint stem through the middle of the cucumber. Enjoy!

Photos by The Drink Nation