Community Corner

Celebrate The Derby With Your Own Mint Julep Recipe

Food columnist Bob Leo has big plans for his favorite day in May.

 

One of my favorite days of spring is rapidly approaching. Sorry Mom, it’s not Mother’s Day.

It’s Kentucky Derby Day.

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Believe it or not, I am a bit of a horse race enthusiast. I’ve had some luck on Derby Day and generally start following the field well in advance.

But what’s this all have to do with a food column?

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Well, the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, is also famous for its official drink, the Mint Julep.

The Mint Julep consists of four very simple ingredients, Kentucky Bourbon, sugar, water, and of course mint. The first step is to muddle the mint and sugar together. Just place a few leaves in the bottom of a cup with a teaspoon of sugar.  Then muddle! A muddler looks like a miniature baseball bat but if you don’t have one the back of a spoon works nicely. Next add a hefty shot of bourbon and top off with water. Shake and pour over ice.

Traditionally Juleps were served in pewter or silver cups. Today copper is the accepted vessel. This allows the cup to frost and creates the desired level of chill. Most bars or homes don’t carry copper glasses, so a standard highball glass will suffice.

The origins of the Mint Julep are somewhat clouded, but the recipe first appeared in print in 1803. The author was John Davis of Virginia. Senator Henry Clay introduced the Julep to D.C. He would reside at the famous Willard Hotel while in Washington and insisted that their Round Robin Bar make them for him. This is where the Mint Julep got its legs.

In 1938 Early Times Whiskey in conjunction with Churchill Downs promoted the Mint Julep as the Derby’s official drink. Today 120,000 juleps are sold in a two-day period. Nearly all of them in commemorative souvenir cups. In 2006 Woodford Reserve Bourbon (the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby) introduced a premium Mint Julep that consists of Woodford’s Reserve, imported mint from Ireland, imported raw sugar from Australia, and spring water ice cubes from the Bavarian Alps. The drink is sold in a gold plated cup with a silver straw and can be yours for a mere $1000 a pop. In 2008 Churchill Downs created a six foot tall julep cup that hold 206 gallons of the stuff with a special dispensing device the comes out of the straw. Now that’s a good week-end.

As for the race itself, right now I’m leaning towards ITSMYLUCKYDAY, but no guarantees. I will guarantee a delicious summery cocktail with a little bit of a kick. All you gotta do is follow the recipe.


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