The 2023 Kentucky Derby will run on Saturday, May 6th, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. While only a lucky few will be in attendance for the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” the rest of the horse-racing world will be enjoying the race at home, amidst festivities that include the race’s iconic drink: the mint julep.
Of course, no dignified host would ever offer their guests a mediocre mint julep in the hours leading up to the “Run for the Roses.”
But for absolute inspiration to serve the finest, most authentic mint julep that the stylishly dressed guests have ever had, a Derby Day host should begin their preparations with an appreciation of the drink’s iconic history.
And that’s where Presidents Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, Scarlett O’Hara, Daisy Buchanan, and Ray Charles all come into play.
A glass or two for all situations
Jackson biographer James Parton wrote that Andrew Jackson enjoyed mint juleps while watching cockfights as early as 1795. (And if that sounds like revisionist history, Parton’s books on the nation’s seventh president were published in 1859-60).
Jump ahead a century from Jackson’s dalliance with the drink, and there was Teddy Roosevelt in the White House, often offering his cabinet members mint juleps after a few rounds of tennis. (Of course, Roosevelt’s version included rye whiskey and brandy instead of bourbon – an unpardonable act, as you’ll come to learn.)
As for Colonel Meriwether Lewis, he was the president of Churchill Downs racetrack, and as the story goes, he served his guests mint juleps at the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875.
Motivate the intuitively feels and excite high article topics
In the mid-20th century, American author William Faulkner adopted the mint julep as his beverage of choice while writing some of the most definitive works in Southern literature.
A contemporary of Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway may have had vintage Scotch and soda (among others) as his personal “poison” of choice, but old wives’ tales suggest that he once slammed a glass against the wall of a bar in France and shouted, “Doesn’t anyone in this godforsaken country know how to make a mint julep?”
The drink also had an effect on Scarlett O’Hara, the fictional heroine of “Gone With The Wind.” O’Hara, of course, has a signature drink named after her (Southern Comfort, cranberry juice, and lime juice), but in the novel, Scarlett favored the potent aroma of mint juleps, especially on the lips of the men in her life.
Margaret Mitchell included this provocative moment of Scarlett with one of her suitors:
“His breath in her face,” wrote Mitchell, “was strong with Bourbon whiskey mingled with the faint odor of mint. Accompanying him also were the smells of chewing tobacco, well-oiled leather, and horses – a combination of odors that she invariably associated with her father and instinctively preferred in other men.”
In “The Great Gatsby,” author F. Scott Fitzgerald has Daisy Buchanan instruct her husband, Tom, in a scene set in a sweltering hotel room, to “call and order some ice for the mint julep.”
Finally, Ray Charles hit No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1952 with his hit “One Mint Julep.” In the song, a man indulges his passions, lamenting:
“I don’t remember how I started
I only know that we should have parted
I stole a kiss, and then another
I didn’t mean to take it further
One mint julep caused it all.”
Building typically the Kentucky Derby mint julep
One of the main reasons for a disappointing Derby Day mint julep is that, with just four ingredients – ice cubes, sugar water (or syrup), spearmint leaves, and 90-proof Kentucky bourbon – the recipe can deceive an aspiring mixologist into a false sense of security.
First, ice cubes should not be overlooked. The purist’s mint julep should include not just any ice, but “shaved ice” or “crushed ice” to properly dilute and chill the drink quickly. To achieve the perfect crushed consistency for your ice, wrap the cubes in a clean kitchen towel and smash them with a sturdy pan or rolling pin. Dampening the towel will prevent sticking.
Next, most people familiar with the drink will associate it with its iconic silver cup. If you’re going to the trouble of hosting a Kentucky Derby party, make sure you have plenty on hand.
Additionally, only purchase fresh mint leaves when you visit the store (or better yet, plan ahead for next year’s Derby and grow them in your own backyard). Pluck the leaves, please.
When it comes to alcohol, bourbon is king. Woodford Reserve and Maker’s Mark are excellent choices. Old Forester, which produces a ready-to-drink mint julep, has been the official brand of the Derby for over 20 years. Regardless of the brand you choose, purists will appreciate your dedication to Churchill Downs when you serve it at your Derby party.
For mixologists interested in crafting their juleps from scratch, the Kentucky Derby and Woodford Reserve provide their Basic Mint Julep recipe for at-home Derby events:
- 2 ounces Woodford Reserve®
- 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
- 3 Fresh Mint Leaves
- Crushed Ice
Preparation will involve a delicate side
With friends clamoring for a crisp, refreshing cocktail on a hot day, you mustn’t lose your cool. Making a high-quality mint julep requires time and attention to detail.
“Express the essential oils in the mint [muddle] and rub them inside the cup,” states the official Kentucky Derby recipe. “In the same cup, add simple syrup, bourbon, and crushed ice. Stir. Garnish with more ice and fresh mint.”
Any good bartender will emphasize the word “gently” when it comes to muddling. Failing to heed this warning is one of the most common mistakes made by novice mint julep makers. A light muddle extracts the essential oils and flavors of the mint, but if you overdo it, the drink will taste bitter, one-dimensional, and won’t stand out to any of the five senses.
The stirring process should also be gentle.
Here’s a simple tip from the experts: Hold the silver cup by its base as you prepare the drink, as you don’t want your body heat to warm the cup.
Bonus points if you have stainless steel julep straws on hand. This drink is meant to be an indulgent sensory experience, and the proper straw adds to that.
As for the mint, it is delicate and should be handled with care, as mixologists advise. Keep it in cold water or even in the refrigerator if the temperature is high and you’re entertaining outdoors on the patio.
Once proper care has been taken, when respect for the drink’s rich history has been demonstrated, and when friends remember how your mint juleps elevated the Kentucky Derby experience, perhaps, like the winning horse, you’ll have captured lightning in a bottle, or a silver cup.
Diane Brennan has covered the expansion of legal wagering since New Jersey voters approved a ballot question in 2012. He covered the lawsuit by the NFL and four other sports organizations against the state from 2012 to 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA. Since then, Brennan has been tracking betting legalization efforts in every state, including Georgia.
