I love Mint Juleps.
This might seem odd since I don’t drink alcohol. Let me explain. When I was a kid, I would go to Disneyland and buy a Mint Julep and a fritter from a window in New Orleans Square before watching Fantasmic on the edge of the Rivers of America. Obviously, this drink did not have alcohol in it, and I loved it.
Today is Mint Julep Day, and I wondered where the Mint Julep came from. Since Disney sold it in New Orleans Square, I figured it originated in the south. Plus, it’s a refreshing drink on a hot day. It turns out the history of this drink is much more varied.
Why not muddle some mint, add some bourbon (or not), and enjoy a Mint Julep while you learn about this tasty drink? There are a ton of recipes; here is one from myrecipes.com. Enjoy!
- Mint Juleps should be served in a special silver or pewter cup. It held from the bottom or top so that frost can form on the outside of the cup.
- A “julep” was originally a sweet drink used to take medicine.
- The first mention of Mint Julep in a book was in 1803. The author, John Davis, wrote, “a dram of spirituous liquor that has mint steeped in it, taken by Virginians of a morning.”
- The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
- Over 120,000 Mint Juleps are sold during Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs.