Let’s throw the best Kentucky Derby Party around! This… coming from a California girl curiously living in the Deep South.
In my mind, throwing the best Derby Party has everything to do with buying all of the mint and all of the bourbon. With those two staples… everything else will fall into place. This… coming from the California girl (who really likes bourbon).
A big hat is important. A television that plays the races is pretty essential. Red roses are a nice touch. Fried chicken will keep the masses contented. A Derby Pie (totally in our near future) is above and beyond, and totally major.
All of the bourbon, though. First we’re really going to need all of the bourbon.
Adorning our bourbon is also pretty important.
Silver Mint Julep cups are classic. I have friends so serious about the Kentucky Derby, they bring their very own Julep Cups to Derby parties (ahem Ms. Whitney).
I went with a more colorful Julep cup. This… coming from the girl from California. These floral enamel tumblers from MacKenzie Childs are full of charm.
Horse racing cocktail spears found here!
With all the bourbon and all the mint, here we are… OFF TO THE RACES!
(I had to.)
Ice becomes a major part of Mint Juleps because the cocktail has so few ingredients: mint simple syrup, bourbon, and ice.
Crushed ice all the way. I’ll be crushing ice all summer thanks to this ice crushing dream machine. Count on it!
A bit of mint simple syrup in the bottom of each tumbler.
Lots of crushed ice.
I had no idea how fast ice melts in the South. Lightening speeds. Seriously.
Bourbon on top of the ice, on top of the mint simple syrup.
My Julep bourbons of choice: Bulleit, Jack Daniels (which isn’t bourbon, but whiskey), Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, and Knob Creek. I also think a rye might be nice! Select what makes you happy.
More ice, forever and ever.
A paper straw. A horse racing accessory. A sprig of mint as giant as your hat or as dapper as your bow tie. Even this California girl knows this much to be true.
Additional recourses: How Sweet Eats makes a lovely twist on the classic: Pineapple Mint Juleps Mint Juleps are serious business. How to prepare and enjoy the complicated cocktail, from Slate.
Classic Mint Juleps
recipe from epicurious
For the Mint Syrup:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 big handful fresh mint leaves and stems
For the Cocktail:
1 scant ounce mint syrup
about 2 cups crushed ice
2 ounces bourbon
fresh mint sprigs for garnish
To make the mint syrup, in a medium saucepan combine sugar, water, and mint over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stir, and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow mint to steep for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the mint leaves, place syrup in a small jar and refrigerate until chilled through. Mint syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance.
To make a cocktail, add mint syrup to the bottom of a glass. Top with about 1 cup of crushed ice. Add bourbon and stir. Top with more ice, filling the glass. Add a mint sprig and straw and stir just before serving.
50 Responses
…Correction, Jack Daniels and Tennessee Whiskeys meet all current criteria by which a bourbon is defined, they define themselves as TN whiskey because of a specific specific white oak toasted barrell and sugar maple charcoal filtration. All Bourbons are whiskey…but not all Whiskeys are bourbon…and for reasons aforementioned…all bourbons can’t be TN whiskey.
Awfully fond of Basil Hayden’s. Another fun variation is the Prescription Julep, which is bourbon and cognac — more flavor on the front AND back.
Well, you can’t be from the South unless you make your mint juleps by “rocking the baby”…really!
I love the tumblers! Your pun? Excellent :) Happy Derby Day!
Those cups are seriously gorgeous! Super envious. Sounds like these mint juleps would certainly do them justice.
Buffalo Trace is my favorite bourbon for any drink including a mint julep. And those glasses are lovely :)
Love those enamel cups and I am so looking forward to a mint julep this weekend!
I adore this post! I love MacKenzie Childs and I love how you styled these mint juleps! I was able to include one of your adorable images in my blog post today and hope you love it as much as I love your blog! https://blog.christinaleighevents.com/its-gonna-be-may/
Cheers!
Christina
Are you serious?? I had no idea a mint julep was that simple! Honey, I’m so on this!
my mint plant is going crazy right now and I have been trying to think of ways to use it in salads, desserts, etc.- why did I not think of the obvious?! Thanks Joy!
I’ve always wanted to know how to make this AND I simply adore those gorgeous mint julep cups!!
Those cups! That cocktail! I want it all. :)
they can all be yours! i promise!
I have been on the look-out for new drink ideas for entertaining and these look ideal – perfect for post-finals parties and barbecues! I’m sure all of my college friends will be extremely grateful! Thanks Joy!
Living in Kansas, I have no knowledge of any sort of derby or what that entails.
BUT I do love some beautiful tumblers. And I do love that you just introduced me to Whitney’s blog because now she’s going to be my new favorite for a while.
We have a semi-ridiculous collection of silver mint julep cups (the hubs is from Kentucky, and his mother gives us engraved cups for everything), but those floral tumblers are to die for! Can’t even handle them, especially with those insanely adorable horse… toothpicks? Whatever they are, I love them.
Also, if you can get it there, you should try Old Pogue bourbon. And if sweet tea has been growing on you, you may try combining sweet tea with mint and bourbon. It’s a good combination. I made sweet tea mint julep sorbet a few years ago and it was delightful!
Old Pogue! I’m totally on it! Thank you for the suggestion!
The best part of the Derby is mint juleps – love the glasses btw…
All of sudden I’m quite thirsty! Also, I adore those cups.
Love the cups!! Where can I find some?
Oops, found your link! They are too cute
There’s a link to the cups in the second paragraph of the post! Just click it!
Wow. Really gorgeous, everything.. And those tumblers are to. die. for.
Those cups and this drink are everything, love!
As others have pointed out, and I will as well, Jack Daniels isn’t bourbon! (And not even just by my absolute purist Kentucky-native definition–just by what makes bourbon what it is!)
You’re right. I made a mistake.
We drink juleps all summer, delicious! (Yes, I am a California girl, and you are living my dream….love New Orleans) i especially love your julep cups!! Just beautiful.
Yes! I’m a California girl as well, but one of my friends is a native North Carolinan, and we’re hosting a Kentucky Derby party this weekend! She’s making all the authentic southern food and sweet tea and I’m in charge of the mint juleps. (I’m also experimenting with some Mint Julep cupcakes – all the bourbon all the time!)
What kind of bourbon do you prefer? Maybe you could do a blog post on different kinds of bourbons? Because I’m pretty into it, but also pretty ignorant about it.
These cups are so fab. I want to live in them. Gorgeous!
I love those cups, perfect touch of vintage!
the tumblers are brilliant!
I agree with Pam. They’re gorgeous. Where did you get them?
There’s a link to the cups in the second paragraph of the post!
Hurrah! I read the post several times but must have missed it in the excitement. Thank you!
Yes there is a link, but it takes you to “item cannot be found” Such a pain with all this searching
Those cups are nothing short of awesome!!
This sounds so delicious! I love alcohol with mint especially when it’s got so much tradition around it!
https://love-your-ego.blogspot.de
keep the booze recipes coming. its patio season in ohio and you cant sit on a patio without a drink!
you need to get yourself to the derby…well dressed people, horses, and more bourbon than you thought possible. It is amazeballs.
Skip and I drink juleps in white bucks because Derby Day offers white shoe dispensation (along with Easter) between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Subversive celebrating because there will be some (Southern) eyebrows raised.
Like you, I am devoted to Bourbon. Have lots of almost empty bottles of expensive ones I sample for (frequent) special occassions. Recently discovered the Kentucky Gentleman someone left behind to be delectible, and honestly preferable to some of my famous favs. I was shocked to find that it’s wonderfully inexpensive!!! And perfect for mixing juleps!
What I wouldn’t give to be in the south during Derby time celebrating with a big hat and the cutest mint julep! Bravo!!!
xoxo
Taylor
So stinking yummy looking joy!! Love!
I’m more than a little in love with those tumblers!
Those cups are absolutely lovely. I think I may have to end my day with one of these…..ice melts quickly here in Dubai too.
Thanks so much for the step-by-step! The gorgeous pictures really help with a detailed cocktail recipe.
Mint juleps are so refreshing this time of year, and perfect with a slice of Derby Pie!
Is it wrong to want a mint julep at 5:40 am? Will you be posting your derby pie? My favorite is a take on the derby pie by Americas Test Kitchen – Thouroughbred Pie
I love your julep cups! So whimsical and summery :) Can’t wait to make these this summer and have a little bit of the South in London. x
Any day of the week is mint julep time! We all bourbon makes Tuesday more of a Thursday.
There need to be more occasions in life that call for bourbon, mint and hats. Not necessarily in that order.