I know the Kentucky Derby was last month, and by some measures the venerable Mint Julep only crosses our radar then and then only. But when the day is hot and the thirst is mighty, I'd strongly suggest banging out a Julep. In continuing with the mint in cocktails theme, I'd like to cobble together a love letter of sorts to perhaps America's most iconic cocktail. . . an ode to the Mint Julep, in quotes and in a video link:
"They say that you may always know the grave of a Virginian as, from the quantity of julep he has drunk, mint invariably springs up where he has been buried." Frederick Marryat, 1839
"....that the mounds of ices, and the bowls of mint-julep and sherry cobbler they make in these latitudes, are refreshments never to be thought of afterwards, in summer, by those who would preserve contented minds." Charles Dickens, while traveling in America, 1842
"If the mark of a great cocktail is the number of unbreakable rules it generates, then the mint julep may be America's preeminent classic, edging out the martini in a photo finish. William Grimes, 'Straight Up Or On The Rocks'
The other day, I blogged about my awesome Big Book of Backyard Cooking. In the review, I mysteriously mentioned my favorite iced tea recipe, but I didn't want to go into detail until I could share pictures of all the tasty ingredients. So, over the weekend I ran to the store twice (because I lazily didn't check my food supply before going the first time), and whipped up a nice batch of my absolute favorite iced beverage: Julep Iced Tea.
Instead of bourbon, which keeps many a folk sauced at the Kentucky Derby, this recipe uses a super-potent batch of English Breakfast tea. It takes a little more effort than your usual iced tea, but it's well worth the effort. Julep Iced Tea is super tasty, with that immediate kick of fresh mint and the sweet, sugary aftertaste of lemony tea. Check out the recipe after the jump and the gallery below.
Did you know that there's an official Kentucky Derby recipe for the Mint Julep? This is the drink that you down as you watch the horsies fly by. It also helps if you wear a big hat.
It's called The Early Times Mint Julep, because it uses Early Times Kentucky Whiskey. You probably don't have Silver Julep cups at home, so I'd use something else.
Also after the jump is a video on how to make an alternate version of the Mint Julep.
Yesterday was a big day for fans. Which fans? Basically, any and all fans who wanted to celebrate anything, whether you were celebrating Cinco de Mayo, holding your breath during the De La Hoya vs. Mayweather fight, swirling your twirl for Tom Jones in Vegas, or cheering for the horses at the Kentucy Derby.
If it was the Kentucky Derby, then no doubt you were sipping on mint juleps all day long. If you happen to have some of the mint-infused simple syrup left, you might want to follow in the recipe steps of Ceres' Secrets and throw together a Mint-Juleped Fruit Salad. All you have to do is toss fresh fruit with the simple syrup, a splash (or more, depending on how you feel) of Bourbon, and garnish with fresh mint. I can't think of a better way to get over your post-Derby Day hangover!
Granted, this isn't actually a Mardi Gras cocktail per se, however the ingredients are meant to give a nod to the South nonetheless. I actually stumbled upon it one day while looking for a Mint Julep recipe - this is just a slight variation of the original. It's now on my rotation of drinks to serve at a party because it always garners such positive response. Adjust the ingredients to suit your own personal taste, if desired.
Minted Bourbon 1 1/2 oz bourbon 1 oz sugar syrup (recipe can be found here) 2 tsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice 2-3 sprigs of fresh mint Sparkling water or soda Crushed ice
Muddle mint leaves with lemon juice. Add simple syrup, bourbon, and ice. Shake or stir until well mixed. Strain into a tall glass over ice, and top with sparkling water or soda. Garnish with mint leaves or a lemon wedge.
Mint juleps (and anything else with whisky) are Kentucky Derby staples, but if you're not a big drinker, or
are acting as designated driver, you might feel like you're missing out when it comes to celebrating the
"run for the roses." There are plenty of non-alcoholic "mocktails" that you can mix up so you won't
be left out of the party. These two recipes are both from the LCBO Mocktails recipe section. The first is a
non-alcoholic Mint Julep variation, which is both appropriate and refreshing. The second drink is known as the
"Derby Mocktail" and is a fruitier, more colorful Derby choice.
Mint Mocktail
5 oz lemonade 6 mint leaves, torn 1 oz ginger juice 1 tbsp fresh blueberries (garnish)
To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add lemonade, mint and ginger juice. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass
filled with ice. Garnish with blueberries and a mint sprig.
Derby Mocktail
3 oz. pineapple juice 3 oz. tangerine juice 1 tsp grenadine 1 maraschino cherry (garnish)
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients, shake and strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
We've seen mint juleps here on Slashfood before. There's a mint julep flavored soda and the 132nd Kentucky Derby will serving ooh-la-la $1,000 mint juleps on Derby Day. If you'll be betting on watching the races from home, you can mix up a proper mint julep at your own home bar. But first, a little bit of historical trivia, or trivial history.
The mint julep, though most popularly associated with the Kentucky Derby, wasn't invented by some bartender mixing drinks track-side. The cocktail was first appeared officially in 1803 when it was described as a "dram of spirituous liquor that has mint in it, taken by Virginians in the morning." However, the mint julep's history may go back even a century before that to the early 1700s. Mint juleps today are made with Bourbon, but the first mint juleps were likely made with rye whiskey or rum (in which case, doesn't that make it a mojito?!?!).
To make a mint julep, start with a silver cup, which is frosted over. If you don't have a silver cup, a regular tumbler is fine. Some recipes call for a simple syrup, and others have mint leaves muddled with granulated sugar. If you're using granulated sugar, muddle fresh mint leaves in the bottom of the glass with 1 tsp. sugar. Add crushed ice, the pour in 3 oz. Bourbon.
If you plan ahead, you can prepare the simple-syrup version of the mint julep. Bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil and completely dissolve sugar. Add a handful of mint leaves to the syrup, then chill syrup overnight. To make the mint juleps, place crushed ice in glass, add 1 Tbsp. of the chilled mint syrup, and pour in 2 oz. Bourbon.
Mint juleps have been synonymous with the Kentucky
Derby for decades. Race-goers traditionally sip the drink from silver or pewter cups. The $1000 mint julep will be
served in a gold-plated cup with a silver straw. The mint is from Morocco, ice from the Arctic circle, and bourbon from
one of the state's finest producers, Woodford Reserve.
Now all they
need to do is serve a $10,000 slice of Derby Pie.
Did you know that there's an official Kentucky Derby recipe for the Mint Julep? This is the drink that you down as you watch the horsies fly by. It also helps if you wear a big hat.
Granted, this isn't actually a Mardi Gras cocktail per se, however the ingredients are meant to give a nod to the South nonetheless. I actually stumbled upon it one day while looking for a Mint Julep recipe - this is just a slight variation of the original. It's now on my rotation of drinks to serve at a party because it always garners such positive response. Adjust the ingredients to suit your own personal taste, if desired. 
Mint juleps (and anything else with whisky) are Kentucky Derby staples, but if you're not a big drinker, or
are acting as designated driver, you might feel like you're missing out when it comes to celebrating the
"run for the roses." There are plenty of non-alcoholic "mocktails" that you can mix up so you won't
be left out of the party. These two recipes are both from the 
Cakes so amazing they'd be hard to cut into
Fruit juice: An invitation to diabetes?
Morbid thoughts? Have a cookie
