Mint Julep

It wouldn’t be the Kentucky Derby Day without a classic Mint Julep. 

The Mint Julep has been the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby since 1939, with over 120,000 being sold at Churchill Downs each Derby weekend. However, the Mint Julep and “Julep” category have been around a lot longer than that.

To be classified as a julep, a cocktail simply needs to be served over crushed ice, usually have a slightly sweet taste, and ideally be served in a julep cup. The earliest records of Juleps start around the 18th century using cognac or peach brandy, but when insects wiped out France’s vineyards in the 1880s, people turned to gin and whiskey for their juleps and never really turned back. 

But the American South had the idea for whiskey juleps as early as the 1770s, with medical journals prescribing whiskey juleps with mint for upset stomachs and even recommending them first thing in the morning. It quickly became the refreshing drink of choice for hot days at the horse races and well, the rest of history. 

The modern version only calls for mint, ice, sugar, and of course bourbon. The original recipe relied on dissolved powdered sugar, but save yourself the trouble and opt for simple syrup. As for the bourbon, Churchill Downs changes its bourbon partnership every few years, so there is no official bourbon of choice, but with so much ice we recommend a high proof bourbon to offset the dilution. 

For the annual Run for the Roses, you can reach for a Woodford Spire, a Man o’ War, a Derby, or a Jockey Club, but the day wouldn’t be complete without a Mint Julep.