RECIPE: The Ultimate Mint Julep

Bourbon is the quintessential American whiskey and the drink of choice of many Southerners. Made primarily in Kentucky, mostly from corn, when properly made, filtered, and aged, Bourbon can rival the finest Cognacs in richness, depth, and complexity.

Mint 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. Pick the one you like the best. 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 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 cents 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.

If the recipe looks familiar, you would not be far wrong noticing its similarity to the Mojito.

My wife and I always watch the Derby with a julep in hand. Tell us about your Derby traditions below.

Yield: 1 (12 ounce) cocktail
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Start mixing at least by 4:30 for 5:00 post time.

Ingredients
8 to 10 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint for garnish
1 tablespoon of sugar, more or less to taste
1 1/2 ounce clean fresh Kentucky spring water
3 ounces premium Bourbon
Crushed ice

About the Bourbon. Knob Creek is my favorite sippin' whiskey, but I cringe at the thought of mixing it with sugar and mint. So I use Jim Beam Black Label, first rate 8 year old that sells for about $25 where I live.

Optional: Replace the sugar with 1 ounce peach syrup.

Optional: Replace the water with seltzer to make it more lively.

Do this
1) Rinse the mint 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.

2) Put the leaves in a 12 ounce cocktail glass and pour the sugar on top. Muddle them together with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon. When the leaves and wet sugar begin to turn to a mushy paste, add the water and the bourbon, and stir with a fork until the sugar dissolves. Top with crushed ice, garnish with the sprig of mint, get your bets down, and serve.

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Comments

[Exfl]

11:16 PM on 05/05/2012

If bourbon is made from corn and moonshine is made from corn then wouldn't a true southern julep be made with moonshine?

[Chango137]

07:09 PM on 05/05/2012

Great of you to point out the similarities of the Mint Julep to the Mojito, two great drinks and a fine example of gastronomic convergent evolution.

[TaurusRose]

06:13 PM on 05/05/2012

My tradition is to always wear a derby style hat, whether dressed up or dressed in jeans.

[BlueZoo]

06:07 PM on 05/05/2012

Not a bourbon drinker but compromised today and made a white sangria which requires crushed fresh mint leaves. Will be watching the Derby, rooting for Hansen and enjoying this libation immensely!

[TaurusRose]

06:02 PM on 05/05/2012

Most southerners are sticking to Woodford and Makers Mark, NOT Creek stuff.
Also the MOST PLEASANT and REFRESHING mint julep is made from muddled mint (an HERB)
that is heated with the simple syrup and then very well strained.
Top your Mint Julep with fresh mint. A straw is mandatory to enjoy the entire drink.
The remaining muddled mint syrup (if there is any) is a treat on many food items.

[Wilkby]

05:28 PM on 05/05/2012

You mean I have to drive all the way to Kentucky to get fresh spring water for this drink?

[Cuester]

05:23 PM on 05/05/2012

My dad used to make these using exactly the same recipe, except I doubt he measured the bourbon. If I recall correctly, he generally used confectioner's sugar. The mint grew in our backyard behind a shed.

We sat on our patio in the evenings and sipped them from spun aluminum julip glasses in a set he had purchased years before. They frosted up nicely and we usually ended up wrapping a napkin around the base to keep our fingers from freezing.

I have to say that they are extremely potent and knocked over more than one neighbor about halfway through the second drink. My dad has long passed away and I quit drinking over 30 years ago, so no more julips are being consumed at my house, but they taste almost as good as a dim memory.

[Eddie VanderMolen]

04:30 PM on 05/05/2012

I wouldn't sully good bourbon with sugar and mint. I enjoy Pimm's #1 Cup and gingerale garnished with a cucumber.

[Eric Ehrmann]

04:06 PM on 05/05/2012

Yo, Meat...it is also the kissin' cousin to the Brazilian Caiprinha, which sprung out of the old Confederado tradition, the 50,000 refugees of the Confederacy who headed down to Brazil at the end of the "civil war"... used limes mulled with a wood stick with sugar and Cachaca. Shaken, not stirred, over ice. Great to cut the grease on that big Brazilian churrasco steak. So popular there is even room for one they make with vodka, called the "Caipirorshka"... consumed in large quantities at the Hippodromo on the lake behind the mountains in Rio not far from where the girl from Ipanema used to hang out.

[DSciarrino]

03:57 PM on 05/05/2012

Thanks for the FYI. I'll give it a try!

I happen to enjoy a good bourbon. A nice rye, too!

[elsquibbs]

02:33 PM on 05/05/2012

I just drink the bourbon by itself. It seems to work.

[Bank Vaults are Empty]

02:05 PM on 05/05/2012

It's Saturday, I'm going to try this!

[Caroleeena]

02:02 PM on 05/05/2012

This sounds delicious. Thanks for the excellent instructions. I have lots of flavors of mint in pots (to keep them from taking over my yard). I'm going to try this with the orange mint! I bet that will be yummy.

[SPYWITNESS]

02:02 PM on 05/05/2012

bourbon with mango juice and mint! now that's a health drink!

[Catriona]

01:49 PM on 05/05/2012

Meathead-That is some great website you have! I can't wait until I have a block of uninterrupted time to luxuriate in your meaty pages.