Saturday, May 4th brings us the biggest day in horse-racing, the 145th Kentucky Derby. While the horses and hats get a lot of the attention, the drinks do too, and there is no drink more iconic than the famed Mint Julep.
This simple drink sells by the hundreds of thousands at Churchill Downs over Derby Weekend (some with the hefty price tag of $1,000 a drink), but while Kentucky may be hundreds of miles away from New Hampshire, you can still enjoy this legendary drink by making it yourself and sipping it during the two most exciting minutes in the sporting world! See the recipe for a classic Mint Julep below.
Mint Julep
2 oz high-proof bourbon (Churchill Downs uses Woodford Reserve or Old Forester)
.5 oz simple syrup
4 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
Muddle the mint in the bottom of the glass to release the oils from the leaves. Add 2 ounces of the bourbon of your choice, simple syrup, and crushed ice. Stir gently and garnish the side of the glass with additional mint leaves. Enjoy!
