Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 4 bags earl grey tea
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup bourbon
  • 2 limes
  • 1 cup sweet mint, stems and leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled sparkling water
  • crushed ice

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 cup of water until on the verge of boiling. Remove from heat. Steep the 4 bags of tea in the water for 5 minutes.
  2. Remove tea bags, bring tea to a boil and stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved and reduce heat. Continue to stir for about 10 minutes until the liquid reduces by half. But don't let it get too thick!
  3. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup of bourbon and the juice from 2 limes.
  4. Place the 2 squeezed limes and 1 cup of sweet mint stems in a pitcher. I left the leaves on the stems and tied the stems into a bundle with a sprig of mint.
  5. Pour the warm bourbon mixture into the pitcher over the mint and limes. Cover and place in the refrigerator until cooled.
  6. When ready to serve, uncover and remove the mint and limes. Add 1 1/2 cups of chilled sparkling water and stir.
  7. Serve in an 8 ounce glass or metal mug packed with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and lime wedge.