Put on your best hat or seersucker suit – the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and it’s time to enjoy a refreshing mint julep.
The ideal combination of bourbon, sugar and mint, the julep is immensely popular around Derby season but hardly a big seller the rest of the year, says Lauren Paty, bartender at Bluewater Grille.
Every year Bluewater hosts a Derby party in honor of the big event, during which time the restaurant prepares a large batch of mint juleps, but the cocktail is not on the regular menu. “I’ve been here three years and never but one or two times had a customer ask for that particular drink aside from the Kentucky Derby,” she says.
Horse of a Different ColorWant to enjoy a crisp spring cocktail during the Derby, but hate mint juleps?Try Hennen’s equally refreshing mint gin cocktail created by bartender Carry Hertel. “We wanted a nice light spring cocktail that could appeal to everyone,” says front-of-house bar manager Jonathan Maley.The smooth and sweet concoction is made from New Amsterdam – a cucumber infused gin – along with muddled cucumber, muddled mint and simple syrup shaken and served over rocks.
The mint julep is among the signature cocktails at Urban Stack Burger Lounge, where bartender Emory Evans says the drink is made by muddling mint in the bottom of a small tin cup, followed by a pour of Basil Hayden’s bourbon and mint syrup and a shovel of crushed ice with a mint garnish. “We sell a fair amount all the time,” says Evans, not just during Derby season. She adds that the drink is one of the restaurant’s more expensive cocktails, so therefore not as popular as some of the others. “It’s really good, so it’s definitely worth it,” she adds.
If you want to enjoy your julep at home (preferably on the front porch), ready-made julep mixes are available from both Maker’s Mark and Early Times. Jennifer Coradini at Vintage Wine and Spirits says she likes both, though the store only keeps them in stock around Derby time. If mixing your own, the bourbons she suggests are Woodford and Maker’s Mark. “They use both of those at the Kentucky Derby,” she says.
Mint Julep
2 ounces bourbon
.25 ounces simple syrup (one part water, one part sugar)
8 mint leaves
Mint sprig for garnish
Directions: Muddle mint and simple syrup in a julep cup. Add bourbon and fill with crushed ice. Stir until the outside of the cup is frosted, then add more ice to form a dome on top. Add a mint sprig and enjoy.