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Friday, May 4, 2012

It's Derby Time! Some Mint Julep History...

Last year's Derby collector's bottle and napkin.
It's almost Derby time! Kind of torn between the Derby and Cinco de Mayo. Being in Texas, I guess we just celebrate twice. Post time is 6:24 (Kentucky time) pm. I guess that will be followed up with some great Tex-Mex food that will surely involve some fresh guacamole!

Did you know this is the 75th anniversary for the Mint Julep as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby? Nineteen and thirty-eight was the year they made it official. Back then, attendees paid 75 cents for the pleasure. Today,, wow hold your horses! - this delicacy in a collector's cup starts at one grand, that is 1 and 3 zeros and a decimal and two more zeros - $1,000.00!! Wow!


Woodford Reserve makes the collectors cup, only 75 of which will be made to commemorate the 75th anniversary of this delicate sipper. Sixty-five of these will be made of pewter and comes with a sterling silver drinking straw. I said it was a sipper.  And while you are sipping, think about investing in one of the 10 "prestige" cups for 2 grand. Well the proceeds do go to the Heart of the Horse Foundation, a charity that promotes the well being of horses.And for the rest of us... well we can purchase a Derby edition bottle of Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon with an artist's rendition of a racing horse for a  mere $40.00.
Click HERE for more interesting tidbits!

 I went to see if I could still purchase one (ha ha ha) and found out they were all sold. Of course Mr. CJ is just a wee bit relieved!!

OOh next year, I'm ordering some Bourbon Mint Julep Sugar and Bourbon Vanilla Sugar from Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville, KY.  The Bourbon-Mint Julep Sugar has all the rich caramel flavors of raw sugar as well as the refreshing flavors of mint while the Bourbonve  Vanilla Sugar is an all natural Demerara sugar that’s packed and aged with Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla beans to enhance the molasses flavors of the sugar with the richness of vanilla."

I have both lemon and regular mint for the simple syrup, I have regular old Lubbock water (sorry, didn't import the Kentucky version of branch water nor the water from France)... so let's make some Mint Juleps.

2 cups sugar 
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint and lemon mint/balm
Crushed ice
Early Times Kentucky Whisky
Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint (half mint,half lemon), then refrigerate overnight.

Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a silver spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.




Just don't forget to wear your fancy hat.

Click HERE for some more fun info from the Derby Museum. It's well worth a click. 





Have a fun day! Be responsible. See you at Post Time!! Taking my party over to the Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday party!

15 comments:

RhondaBuss said...

Marlis Just wanted to say thank you for your well wishes. I am tired, but the day is almost here!! My time with Haute Couture will come to a close, so time for new things!

The Tablescaper said...

Marlis:

I love all of your tid bits. I do hope you will link your post to Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Anonymous said...

What a busy party weekend for you! ;) Have fun!

Alycia Nichols said...

Man, do I ever wish I could get my hands on one of those commemorative julep cups!!! Do you now how many pieces they'd find my body in if I was to buy one of those??! ;-) Woodford Reserve is my julep base of choice. Very smooth! I don't usually use as much mint or simple syrup in mine as in everyone else's, so I guess I'm really just drinking the bourbon!!! :-) Have fun!!!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Next time I see some mint julep cups in the thrift shop I'll buy them and then try this drink! Have fun! I do love the hats!

Scribbler said...

Ha! Here I sit waiting for the simple syrup to cool, and I find this post!

I am taking all the goodies up to the Mancave for sipping while watching the race as soon as I hit Publish!

Hope your horse wins.

The French Hutch said...

Hi Marlis, Love your Derby themed post. Great collector's bottle. I like how you think, celebrate twice! I sure would like to have a collection of those cups, right!!!!. No Mint Julep for this girl, but I'll take a Margarita with salt! Enjoy your celebrations.

~Emily
The French Hutch

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Marlis, thanks for all the history. I finally had a mint julep for the first time. I'll bet you make a good one!!

Lynn said...

I think the hats are a blast! Hope you enjoyed the race:@)

Anonymous said...

So, did you serve these during the race? I had the mint but no julep!

Sarah said...

I've never had a mint julep, Marlis. it was fun to read all the interesting facts. I do think you need one of those special mint julep cups. ;-) Wouldn't it be fun to go to the Derby just once? What an experience! I have my hat! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Now all I need is a pretty julep cup. ~ Sarah

Savannah Granny said...

Marlis, I hope you enjoyed the race. It is usually a surprise and yesterday didn't fail. As for the mint julep, "I'll Have Another".
My MIL's family Kentucky natives and they love horse racing. Bob's cousin lives in Louisville and they have been attending the race for years.
Make yourself another Julep and don't forget to muddle the mint.
xo Ginger

Sue said...

I enjoyed two of these in honorn of the derby and my niece's wedding last night, Marlis! Mine were made with Makers Mark. I like sweet drinks that are strong. Otherwise, what's the point?, LOL

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Neat post! I've actually never had a mint julep before! They sound great!
The race was wonderful! I love it when a horse sneaks up and surprises everybod! I like the bottle- what a stylish look!

Diane said...

Saving this one - love mint juleps!!

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