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What is a mint julep? Recipe for the official drink of the Kentucky Derby

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The official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1939, the mint julep is a cocktail typically associated with the American South - and is particularly popular in the Bluegrass State. It is traditionally made with bourbon, sugar, water, and fresh mint. The cocktail is often served over crushed ice in a silver or pewter cup.

How do you make a mint julep?

Mint julep: the recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Kentucky bourbon
  • 1 oz. simple syrup
  • 2-3 sprigs of fresh mint
  • Crushed ice
  • Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions:

  • Mix the mint leaves with simple syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass.
  • Fill the cup with crushed ice.
  • Pour the bourbon over the ice and stir until the cup is frosty.
  • Garnish with a mint sprig.

To make the simple syrup, combine sugar and water in a saucepan and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup cool before using.

Note: The official Kentucky Derby mint julep recipe includes a sprig of fresh mint for garnish and a silver cup. However, if you don’t have a silver cup, you can use any julep cup or rocks glass instead.

What are the origins of the mint julep?

The word “julep” has been historically associated with sweet and refreshing beverages that were once used for medicinal purposes. Its origins can be traced back to the Spanish Arabic term “julepe,” which in turn is derived from the Persian word “Golâb,” meaning rosewater.

English juleps were typically lightly alcoholic and medicinal, often containing camphor. It wasn’t until the 18th century, in the southern United States, that the mint julep came into existence.

Historical evidence of the mint julep’s early origins can be found in literary works, such as a satirical play by Robert Munford in 1770, where a drunken character named “Mr. Julip” appears. A poem published in the Williamsburg Virginia Gazette in the same year describes the drink as a concoction which “doctors storm at, and which some adore.” Additionally, the 1784 publication Medical Communications prescribes the mint julep to a patient suffering from nausea, retching, and difficulty swallowing.

2024 Kentucky Derby: when, where, how to watch

The 150th edition of a race dubbed the “greatest two minutes in sports,” the 2024 Kentucky Derby is to be held on Saturday 4 May 2024, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. According to the official race day schedule, the Derby is slated to take place at 6:57pm ET/3:57pm PT. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the event on NBC and Peacock.

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