The Lush Chef

About a month ago, my friend Justin made a couple of pitchers of a Kentucky Maid cocktail for a birthday party.  The man loves bourbon — one of many reasons why I'm glad he's marrying one of my dear friends next weekend!  It's a refreshing drink created by the legendary Sam Ross of Milk & Honey in NYC and now Hinoki & The Bird in LA, where there's a whole menu dedicated to Negronis (YES).  This libation is simple and smacks of summer with just some fresh lime juice, muddled mint and cucumber.  Perfection.  Justin, love you for introducing me to this drink, and here's to many more Kentucky Maids.
Kentucky Maid 
Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon (I used Four Roses)
• 1 oz lime juice
• 3/4 oz simple syrup
• 6 mint leaves, plus some for garnish
• 4 cucumber slices, reserving one for garnish

- In a mixing glass or shaker, combine all the ingredients and muddle.
- Add ice and shake, shake, shake.
- Pour into a glass and garnish with a mint leaf and cucumber slice.