CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One day a year our attention turns to horses. That’s because the Kentucky Derby is such a great theme for a party. Think mint juleps and elaborate hats. Add a bowtie and we’re feeling fancy. We won’t drive to Churchill Downs for the 148th Kentucky Derby this Saturday. But we’ll join our Louisville, Ky., cousins in spirit with a mint julep in a requisite silver cup and a colorful, wide-brimmed straw hat.
The mint julep – a magical mix of bourbon, simple syrup, mint and crushed ice served in a frosted silver or pewter cup – has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1939. Nearly 120,000 mint juleps are consumed during the Run for the Roses. That requires an estimated 10,000 bottles of spirit, 1,000 pounds of fresh mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.
In case you’re wondering – we were – spearmint is the preferred mint for juleps. As for customizing or changing the recipe? Don’t do it during the derby. You might upset the julep gods.
The hardest part of making the mint julep at home is finding ingredients like fresh mint and collecting enough silver cups for your crowd. Scroll down for a list of shopping resources. And be sure to buy your favorite bourbon at a local liquor store. Now, the recipe:
Mint julep recipe
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces of Bourbon
- 1 fresh mint sprig, for garnish
- Crushed ice
Place syrup and mint in julep cup and muddle. Stir in Bourbon. Pack with crushed ice. Serve when the cup is frosted on outside.
Where to buy mint julep ingredients
Stirrings Simple Syrup is ready when you are making your best mint julep. (Courtesy of Drizly)
Simple syrup might be easy to make, but we are busy. Several premade syrups are available. Stirrings Simple Syrup ($4.99) uses only pure cane sugar and triple-filtered water.
When mint is in short supply, Woodford Reserve Mint Simple Syrup is the solution. (Courtesy of Amazon)
Mint is just poking out of the soil in my herb garden. I might consider Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Simple Syrup ($18), which has the spearmint flavor already infused.
Skinny simple syrup keeps calories lower in your mint julep. (Courtesy of Amazon)
Dieters and Keto friends will appreciate Jordan’s Skinny Syrups sugar-free simple syrup ($10.99).
Shop for other simple syrup cocktail mixers
Be ready for the party with your own icemaker. (Courtesy of Amazon)
We never have enough ice at party time. That’s why we want a portable, countertop icemaker. This black Frigidaire Compact icemaker ($119.99) serves 26 pounds of ice per day.
Barware
Muddlers break up herbs or fruits so they release their flavors into your beverage. (Courtesy of Wayfair)
Muddlers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and price points. Our favorite models are wood. They’re used to bring out flavors of herbs and fruits before adding liquid to the cocktail glass. This eight-inch muddler ($7.88) has a walnut finish.
Mint juleps taste best in appropriate drinkware like this beaded stainless steel cup. (Courtesy of Amazon)
Appropriate drinkware is obligatory. We’re buying this stainless steel julep cup ($10.49) for ourself.
Get ready for a group with these plastic mint julep cups. (Courtesy of Oriental Trading)
For a party, we might consider the quantity discount on this collection of plastic mint julep cups ($19.99 for 12).
From fascinators and hats to napkins, more festive Kentucky Derby supplies are available online
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