Kentucky Maid
Bourbon, lemon, sugar, mint and muddled cucumber, shaken over ice. Sam Ross's 2005 Milk & Honey drink — the Maid that started a family, and the freshest thing you can do with bourbon in summer.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Muddle the cucumber slices gently in a shaker with the simple syrup.
Add the mint leaves and press gently, then add the bourbon and lemon juice.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a cucumber slice and a slapped mint sprig.
A thoughtful finish
- Muddle the cucumber gently and the mint barely.
- Double strain; cucumber bits and mint shreds spoil it.
- A rye makes it drier; the bourbon's sweetness is the original.
Common mistakes
- Over-muddling the mint.
- Skipping the double strain.
- Bottled lemon.
A few good questions.
What does a Kentucky Maid taste like?
Bourbon with cool cucumber, fresh mint and lemon — a Whiskey Smash that tastes like a garden.
Who created it?
Sam Ross at Milk & Honey, New York, 2005.
What other Maids are there?
Irish Maid (Irish whiskey and elderflower), Gin Maid, Mezcal Maid, Rum Maid — the same build with a different spirit.
Can I make it with gin?
Yes; it is then close to a Cucumber Southside.
Variations
- Irish Maid — Irish whiskey, elderflower, cucumber and lemon.
- Whiskey Smash — Bourbon, lemon, sugar and mint.
- Southside — Gin, lime, sugar and mint.
- Cucumber Gin Cooler — Gin, cucumber, lime and soda.
Where it comes from
2005 · New York · Sam Ross · Milk & Honey
Sam Ross made the Kentucky Maid at Milk & Honey in New York in 2005, a few months before his Penicillin: bourbon with lemon, simple syrup, mint and cucumber, muddled and shaken and served over ice with a cucumber slice — a Whiskey Smash with cucumber, or a Southside on bourbon. It became one of the most copied drinks of the craft era and the template for a whole family of ‘Maids’ — the Irish Maid with elderflower, the Gin Maid, the Mezcal Maid — all spirit, cucumber, citrus, sugar and mint. The cucumber is the idea: its cool, green water softens the whiskey and makes the mint taste fresher. It is a drink for people who think they do not like bourbon in summer.
Sources
- Sam Ross, Milk & Honey recipe, 2005 (reference)
- Difford's Guide, Kentucky Maid, 2010 (reference)
- Punch, The Maid Family, 2017 (reference)
Strength. About 1.5 US standard drinks at an estimated 21.8% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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