Recipe: Blue Smoke Seared Lamb Chops with Mint Julep Butter

Ingredients
  • 1 cup very finely and neatly cut shallots
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons fine sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 3/4 cup Jim Beam Bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon crème de menthe
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup finely cut fresh mint
  • 1 pound butter, softened but not melted
Preparation

Melt some butter in a saucepan and very gently sweat the shallots until soft, but NO COLOR. Season with the salt, pepper, sugar and cayenne. Add the Jim Beam and allow to reduce to a syrup. Be careful — it might flame up. 

Transfer to a mixing bowl set over ice and add the butter, mint, crème de menthe and lemon juice. Beat well with a rubber spatula until well incorporated. Chill.