Mint Juleps!

As promised, I had Mint Juleps on Saturday for the Kentucky Derby (Animal Kingdom won!). My awesome brother has hosted a Kentucky Derby party for the last few years and honored us with some of his awesome Mint Juleps.

The History of the Mint Julep and Churchill Downs:

The mint julep has been promoted by Churchill Downs in association with the Kentucky Derby since 1938. Each year almost 120,000 juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the two day period of the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, virtually all of them in specially made Kentucky Derby collectible glasses.^[5]

In a contract arrangement between the Brown-Forman Corporation and Churchill Downs that has lasted more than 18 years, the Early Times Mint Julep Cocktail has been the designated "official mint julep of the Kentucky Derby", although the Early Times sold within the United States is not a bourbon. (It is a Kentucky whiskey, but not a bourbon.)

Since 2006, Churchill Downs has also served extra-premium custom-made mint juleps at a cost of $1000 each at the Kentucky Derby. These mint juleps were served in gold-plated cups with silver straws, and were made from Woodford Reserve bourbon, mint imported from Ireland, ice from the Bavarian Alps, and sugar from Australia. The proceeds were used to support charitable causes dedicated to retired race horses. Woodford Reserve and Early Times are sister brands produced by Brown-Forman, and under the terms of its current marketing agreement with Churchill Downs, Woodford Reserve is called the "official bourbon" of the derby.

In May 2008, Churchill Downs unveiled the world's largest mint julep glass. Churchill Downs, in conjunction with Brown-Forman, commissioned the Weber Group to fabricate the 6-foot (1.8 m) tall glass (7.5-foot (2.3 m) if the mint sprig is included). The glass was constructed from FDA food-grade acrylic, heated and molded into the shape of an official 2008 Derby glass. It had a capacity of 206 US gallons (780 l; 172 imp gal), and distributed the Early Times mint juleps at the Derby with an elaborate pumping system concealed within the "stir straw".

Mint Julep Recipe:

Fresh Mint Leaves

2 1/2 oz Bourbon Whiskey

2 tsp Water

Simple Syrup

Muddle mint leaves and water in a collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon and Simple Syrup. (My brother sometimes infuses with simple syrup with mint too!) Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

History of Mint Julep courtesy of wikipedia.com