Juleps and Derbies: Name a More Iconic Duo
If you like to drink juleps while enjoying a nice horserace, you’re not alone: each year an astounding 120,000 mint juleps are consumed by Derby goers over the two-day events at Churchill Downs. The Bourbon Mint Julep, made with hometown favorite, Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon, has been a beloved drink of Derby goers since before its official inauguration.
Although its true origins are disputed (and like many other southern traditions, mired in legend by now), the drink’s current and historical popularity are undeniable. Whether you muddle your mint leaves, use them to infuse your simple syrup, or prefer to stir them in gently, most serious julep drinkers can all agree on one thing: copious amounts of mint should be used in the process!
“I must… descant a little upon the mint-julep, as it is, with the thermometer at 100 degrees, one of the most delightful and insinuating potations that ever was invented, and may be drunk with equal satisfaction when the thermometer is as low as 70 degrees.”
— Captain Frederick Marryat’s Diary (1838)