While you could use a pre-made julep mix, we recommend muddling leaves at least once so you can have the full experience. Since muddling the leaves helps release their aroma and flavor, the fresher they are, the better the results. What You'll Need to Make a Mint Julep Non Alcoholicįor the best mint julep, you'll want super fresh mint leaves. That's why the mint julep cup is still a staple of the Derby to this day. At the same time, the track started serving the beverage in collector's cups so patrons could take the cup home (which they were doing anyway). By 1939, the mint julep was the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. The founder of Churchill Downs, a man aptly named Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., started growing mint leaves behind the racetrack to use in the cocktails. However, they were far from unique to the Derby.Īs the Derby's audience grew, so too did everyone's love of the mint julep. So, by the time the first Kentucky Derby came in 1875, mint juleps were already pretty common. If you live in the US, you know that the home of whiskey is Kentucky, as distilleries within the state pump out both regular whiskey and bourbon at a phenomenal rate. Unfortunately, high taxes by the British made rum and brandy too expensive, so colonists began switching to something they could produce at home - whiskey (specifically, bourbon). At that time, rum and brandy were everywhere, so they were the spirit of choice. By now, it was a mixture of muddled mint leaves and whatever high-proof alcohol one would have on hand. Luminaries such as Michelangelo even drank his fair share of julabs during his life, although it's unclear how the beverage affected his artistic abilities.īy the 1700s, julapium reached the United States. The name also switched to julab or julapium. Since mint was easier to find in the Mediterranean, many people started using mint leaves instead of rose petals. By the 9th century, gulabs were more commonplace, and people were prescribed the rose-infused beverage to help relieve stomach issues and shortness of breath.Īround this time, the gulab underwent both an ingredient and a name change. The first gulabs were baths made with rose water, but eventually, they transformed into medicinal elixirs. The name julep originated in Persia around 200 CE, although it was called gulab, and the beverage was reserved only for imperial princesses. Yes, it is the official drink of the race, but the history of the mint julep spans the globe, from ancient Persia to 19th-century America. Get your mint julep cup ready, and let's head down to the race track! A Brief History of the Mint JulepĮven if you're not a cocktail aficionado, you probably know that the mint julep is a big part of the Kentucky Derby. Plus, when adding Mashville whiskey-alternative from Seir Hill, the flavor of the beverage is taken up a notch or two. That said, when it comes to mocktails, the mint julep is ripe for an update by using non-alcoholic whiskey. This traditional cocktail just gives you a taste of what life is like in the South - trying to stay cool on a hot day with a sip of something cold and icy. If you're looking for a refreshing and classic spring whiskey recipe, it's hard to find something better than the mint julep.
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