The mint julep is a popular cocktail in the Southern United States, made with fresh mint, good bourbon, and simple syrup. It is traditionally served in a silver or pewter julep cup filled with crushed ice and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint. The drink has been the signature drink of Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby since 1938, with over 80,000 served each year. A non-alcoholic version is available at Disneyland.
The mint julep is a cocktail, or mixed drink, likely invented in the Southern United States during the 1900s. Ubiquitous in the American South and similar to the mojito, the drink has been the signature drink of Churchill Downs and Kentucky Dersfor nearly 100 years. Henry Clay introduced New July to Washington DC and North America. For many in the United States, the mint julep is reminiscent of Southern graciousness and hospitality.
There are many different opinions on how to make a mint julep, but everyone will agree that fresh mint is key. Also essential is good bourbon, Kentucky Whiskey being a firm favourite. To sweeten mint juice, simple syrup is used. This can be purchased or made by boiling equal parts granulated sugar and water together. The simple syrup is poured into a container with sprigs of fresh mint that have been bruised, or pressed gently with the back of a spoon to release some of the mint-scented oil. This blend is refrigerated overnight.
When serving juleps, a julep cup, usually made of silver or pewter, is filled with crushed ice. A tablespoon of chilled mint syrup is poured into the cup, along with two ounces of bourbon. The drink is stirred quickly, causing frost to form on the outside of the cup, served with a straw and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint. Leftover mint syrup can be refrigerated until the mint leaves are removed.
The mint julep is the traditional drink of Kentucky Derdal 1938. Over 80,000 mint juleps are served each year during the Der. In 2006, fifty custom-made juleps for $1000 United States Dollars (USD) each were sold at Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is held. Each of these drinks was made with mint imported from Morocco, sugar from the South Pacific, and ice imported from the Arctic Circle. They were served with silver straws in gold-plated bowls and were fundraisers for causes in support of retired racehorses.
Mint juleps also feature prominently in songs by artists from the American South. Ray Charles sang a song called One Mint Julep, and songwriter BobGoldsboro mentions a woman “sipping a julep” in Summer The First Time. “You go to my head like the kicker in a couple of minutes,” was a line in the song You Go To My Head by Louis Armstrong.
A non-alcoholic version of the mint julep is available in New Orleans Square at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. This kid-friendly drink is made from sugar, lime juice concentrate, soda water, cream of mint syrup (not liqueur), and lemonade concentrate. Garnished with maraschino cherries, lime wedges and mint leaves. Disneyland visitors can request the mint julep recipe at Disneyland City Hall.
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