A Tropical Mint Julep for Derby Day

To experience the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby is one of my dreams. A lover of the majestic and beautiful equine since childhood, I’ve visited a few racetracks (with not much luck, but a whole lot of fun), and it’s the whole pageantry and history of the Kentucky Derby that captivates me:  the crazy hats, the heat (unfortunately this year they’re predicting rain and a muddy track), quaffing refreshing mint juleps, the betting, anticipation, exhilaration… One of these days!

My dream intensified after a visit to Louisville, KY last fall for a Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Dinner and tour of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Buffalo Trace ages and bottles the Old Rip Van Winkle brands using  Julian Van Winkle’s grandfather’s original wheated bourbon recipe. If you don’t know what all the fuss about bourbon is, all it takes is one night!

The clubhouse at the Kentucky Derby racetrack began mixing mint juleps around 1875. The drink became so popular that it became the track’s signature libation in 1938 when the management began charging 75 cents for the drink and the small glass vessel it came in. Every year during Derby week at Churchill Downs, more than 80,000 mint juleps are served.

Kentuckians maintain that when a mint julep is made right, you can hear angels sing. Always made with fresh mint, Kentucky bourbon, and plenty of crushed or shaved ice, it is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Traditionally, mint juleps are served in silver or pewter cups (which frost better than glass). Thousands of mint juleps are served every year at the Derby, on the first Saturday in May, at Churchill Downs, and at weekend Derby parties around the nation. {Source: What’s Cooking America}

I’ll be watching the Derby tomorrow and maybe even placing a few bets based on the handicapping of my friends, but more likely based on the name of the horse and his colors 🙂 I’ve heard some good things about Goldencents and he’swearing blue silks, with odds of 8/3 at the time of printing. There’s your hot tip – but my tropical twist to the classic Mint Julep is an even cooler one 🙂 Bookmark for this summer!

The sugar cane swizzle sticks and cute little pineapple (a Zululand Queen Pineapple from South Africa) are available from Frieda’s Specialty Produce. They made these mint juleps extra special, don’t you think?

The bourbon shown is Blanton’s Single Barrel that is so special it has the date it was “dumped”, the date it was warehoused, and the date it was filtered and bottled on the label. Another label distilled at Buffalo Trace, we witnessed bottles of Blanton being hand sealed with wax and boxed the day we visited. The Don knows what I like 🙂 Kept under lock and key at the local Liquor Warehouse, normally a bourbon of this caliber should be enjoyed neat, but the Derby is a special day. Enjoy 🙂