This quintessential Kentucky Derby drink is simple in its list of ingredients but complex in its execution. Here’s how to do it right!
Bourbon is the quintessential American whiskey and the drink of choice of many of the best pitmasters in the south. Made from at least 51% corn, and especially when made, filtered and aged in Kentucky, bourbon can rival the world’s finest Cognacs in richness, depth, and complexity.
Mint, on the other hand, is a weed. Plant some now and you’ll be engulfed by it in two years. There are many types, so go to the plant store and pinch a few leaves to see what you like best. The two main types, spearmint and peppermint, both work well in mint juleps. Pick the one you like the best. Or pick two.
By the time the Kentucky Derby rolls around on the first weekend in May, mint is ready to pick, even in harsher climes, and it flourishes all summer long sporting lovely lavender flowers by midsummer.
The refreshing mint julep cocktail became the official drink of the Derby in 1938 and was served in water glasses. According to the Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, the glasses disappeared from the track dining room. So management started charging 25¢ per glass and the most popular race souvenir was born. They are collector’s items and older glasses command hundreds of dollars on eBay. By 2010 the production run was up to 700,000 and they can be bought in stores. Sterling Silver Julep Cups were introduced in 1951 and they play an important role in Derby lore. Traditionally, the governor of Kentucky salutes the victorious Derby owner with a toast at the fashionable Winner’s Party following the race. The official silver cups sell for $750 on their website. You can order unofficial mint julep cups on Amazon for much less and read more about the drink in the book The Kentucky Mint Julep by Colonel Joe Nickel
Recipes for Mint Juleps vary only a little. Some use simple syrup, some use granulated sugar to help muddle the mint. Some useAngosture bitters others use orange or other exotic new bitters. Ther’s no reason why it can’t be made with Scotch or Dark rum, but Bourbon and Rye are traditional.
My wife and I always watch the Derby with a mint julep in hand. Tell us about your Derby traditions.
Classic Mint Julep Recipe
Rate this RecipeIngredients
Method
- Prep. Rinse the mint leaves to make sure any dirt splashed on the underside of the leaves is gone. Don't dry them. The moisture from the rinse is helpful in making the drink. Pluck the leaves off the stems.
- Muddle. Put the leaves in a 12-ounce (355-mL) cocktail glass and pour the sugar on top. Add the bitters. Muddle them together gently with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon. When the leaves and sugar begin to turn a little mushy, add the water and the bourbon, and stir with a fork until the sugar dissolves.
- Serve. Top with crushed ice, garnish with the sprig of mint, add a straw, and you're off!
