"I like to turn up the fresh mint flavor even more by making a cold-infused mint simple syrup," Horn said. "Basically, letting a whole bunch of mint sit submerged in a container of filtered water for 24 hours, straining, then adding equal parts sugar, and whisking until it dissolves." This method allows the mint to stay fresh and doesn't strip the great hidden flavors it possesses.
Extracting flavor with cold water might seem counterintuitive since we often extract flavor with boiling water. However, cold-infused syrups possess a more complex flavor than what you'd get with a regular syrup that's been boiled.
Before making any cocktails, be sure the mint you have on hand is as fresh as can be. Once you know you're working with fresh mint, Horn then likes to gently muddle it to achieve an even stronger flavor.
Muddling too hard will cause the mint to get too bitter, because the mint's chlorophyll, which is where its bitterness lies, is released.
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