Kentucky: Mint Juleps

We need to talk bourbon and Mint Juleps. They are the quintessential drink of the Kentucky Derby, they're famous all over the world, and they should always use Kentucky Bourbon. There are thousands of recipes with thousands of different proportions of sugar and bourbon and mint, and everyone will always claim that THEIRS are the best.

This is the official recipe for the one made at Churchill Downs. I did take out the "recommended" brand just because, well, I'd never even heard of the brand and as long as it's Kentucky Bourbon... eh.

Kentucky Derby Mint Julep

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Kentucky Bourbon
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Kentucky Bourbon. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

***

Did you make yourself one? Good. Now, Kentucky Bourbon is important because most of the major market brands you buy at the liquor store are indeed Kentucky Bourbon. Makers Mark, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Knob Creek (my dad's favorite). If you want a complete list, go here. And then look at the list underneath to see what bourbons aren't made in Kentucky. It's a sad list. Just for reference sake, all Bourbon is Whiskey, but not all Whiskey is Bourbon. If you really want to read about the specifications of calling a specific whiskey a bourbon, you can read about it, but the most important thing about Kentucky Bourbon is that any brand using Kentucky in its name LEGALLY must be made in Kentucky.

(source)

Fortune Magazine actually ran an article about the Kentucky Derby in 2006 and included the $1000 Mint Julep created for the 132nd Kentucky Derby. Apparently they flew in mint from Morocco, ice from the arctic circle, sugar from Mauritius that is "hand-ground at Woodford's Kentucky distillery" and it came in a gold plated cup!

(source)

Gorgeous, right? The silk handkerchief that is included (not pictured) was designed by a racing silk jockey! It ALSO came with a box so you can keep it safe for generations! Honestly, if I had known about this, I would have wanted one.

We're actually going to be using mint julep cups as part of our centerpieces because they're so cute and sweet and subtle. But they are very Kentucky, so much prided for their use of Kentucky Bourbon. They're great if you like bourbon (I tolerate it because it would be wrong not to).

(source)

See how cute they are?

But KMSull, why aren't you actually having Mint Julep at your wedding? Well, gentle reader, there's a very good reason why we aren't having Mint Juleps or Bourbon (or hard liquor period) at our wedding. We simply aren't allowed to at our venue; they only have 2 rules, one of which is no outside liquor, and they only have a beer and wine license (the other rule is no fireworks). I'm mostly okay with that since we'll have Bourbon other places, but it still makes me a little bit sad that I can't have Juleps or a Bourbon tasting bar.

(Okay, now my confession before you think I drink too much since I had a whole post about alcohol: I honestly do NOT drink all that much. Maybe once or twice a month and usually its only a tequila or vodka on the rocks).