The Kentucky Derby offers something for everyone, from its storied history as a sporting event dating back to 1875 to its pageantry and elaborate hats. But for many, the highlight is the mint julep. Since the Derby provides the perfect excuse to gather friends for an afternoon of drinking and merriment, we spoke to executive chef David Danielson of Churchill Downs about how he and his team at Levy prepare juleps for the 400,000 attendees, including the exact recipe they use, and how you can easily craft stellar juleps at home.
It's a 2-Minute Race and a Day of Drinking Juleps
To give you an idea of the scale of this operation, the Derby takes place on Saturday, May 2, but preparations begin in August of the previous year. “We’ve got an army of people over here working to get everything geared up,” Danielson told HuffPost. He’s not exaggerating, as it takes over 1,000 workers to whip up an estimated 127,000 mint juleps for Derby Day. The premier race is billed as “the fastest two minutes in sports,” but drinking juleps is an all-day event. The bourbon-filled cocktails are poured right after the gates open at 8 a.m., and people continue imbibing until last call at 8:10 p.m.
What It Takes to Prepare Over 127,000 Juleps
As a refresher, a mint julep is a combination of bourbon, water, fresh mint, sugar, and crushed ice. Churchill Downs uses 254,000 ounces of bourbon (over 10,000 750-milliliter bottles), 300 crates of mint (about 4,000 pounds of locally sourced mint from Louisville, Kentucky’s Dohn Gardens), and 60,000 pounds of ice to make their juleps. You probably won’t need nearly as much for your home setup, but Danielson has tips from his nine years of working the Derby to help you out.
Find the Right Bourbon
If you think any type of bourbon will suffice for a mint julep, think again. Woodford Reserve is the Derby’s signature bourbon, and Danielson cited several reasons why. “Woodford is a very smooth bourbon,” he told HuffPost. “It has a great flavor profile and delicious caramel notes.” Most importantly, it mixes well with the mint and sugar. Other bourbons can be too spicy or too mellow for this refreshing spring cocktail.
Make the Majority of the Cocktail Ahead of Time
When making drinks in large quantities, you want to ensure consistently tasty drinks at a fast pace. Many recipes call for tiny spoonfuls of sugar, but scooping sugar behind a bar isn’t fun when you’d rather be socializing. That’s why Churchill Downs replaces sugar with mint simple syrup. “We make a mint simple syrup with equal parts sugar and water. We bring it to a boil, add mint, let it steep, and strain it off,” Danielson said. This simple recipe is easy to try at home. Once done, mix a large quantity of bourbon with your simple syrup and refrigerate it. When your guests arrive, your job becomes simple: “Take your ice out, pour this boozy mixture over top, garnish it, and you’re literally off to the races, my friend,” Danielson said.
Crushed Ice: Accept No Substitutes
“Historically, juleps were a sign of prosperity,” Danielson noted. “Ice was a commodity, and when you wanted to entertain or show you were in society, you showed people you had ice. If you had crushed ice piled high in a glass, you were really doing well.” Show your friends you’re doing great by using crushed ice. Not only does it look fantastic for photos, but it also lets you release frustration in its preparation. If you can’t find crushed ice at the liquor store, create it by smashing a bag of ice with a hammer or using a strong blender.
Treat the Mint Right
You might be tempted to store fresh mint in the fridge’s crisper drawer, but Danielson recommends more respect. “Put an inch or so of cold water at the bottom of a cup,” he said. “Make sure the stems are sitting in the water.” When serving, use an entire sprig of mint with about six to seven leaves.
A Highball Glass Is More Than Suitable
Yes, silver julep cups are available online, but Danielson says not to worry if you don’t have them. “A skinny, tall, 8-ounce highball glass is a great glass for a julep,” he said.
Two Recipes to Try
Below are two recipes: the one served at Churchill Downs and Woodford Reserve’s original recipe. Cheers!
Danielson’s Mint Julep Recipe (Served at Churchill Downs)
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Woodford Reserve
- 1 ounce mint simple syrup
- Sprig of fresh mint
- Crushed ice
Directions: Pour Woodford Reserve and simple syrup over crushed ice. Stir with a spoon. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
Woodford Reserve Mint Julep
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Woodford Reserve
- 1 ounce water
- 4 sprigs of fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Crushed ice
Directions: In a copper julep cup, rub two pieces of fresh mint around the cup to express the oils. Add Woodford Reserve, water, and sugar; stir with a bar spoon. Add crushed ice to the top, then garnish with four sprigs of mint.
The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.
