I like Rock Hill Farms Bourbon. Very pretty bottle with thoroughbred pictures on every side. Can be used as a decanter, vase, etc. after drinking.
http://www.bourbonbanter.com/drink/drink-reviews/bourbon-reviews/rock-hill-farms-bourbon-review/#.VyuChZVJk3E
Mint juleps are o.k. but you have to add things like “My Old Kentucky Home”, the Kentucky Derby, and a southern accent, and a whole bunch of atmosphere or it is not worth drinking.
I don’t particularly like bourbon, but I will be drinking it tomorrow. I sent some of my excellent fresh mint home with friends who are making a simple syrup, using the mint, and I am going to be there tomorrow afternoon, with my Derby hat, cheering my heart out. And drinking mint juleps.
I prefer Blanton’s bottles. Nice race horse on top!
Ahhh, must be a Kentucky thing. I’m from Kentucky and I LOVE a good mint julep! First, you have to appreciate good bourbon, and I agree with Gumtree - I think the best juleps are made with Woodford Reserve.
I hope all you who were there collected some of those nice souvenir glasses, with all the winners of previous races on them…
Just up dating to say I actually enjoyed the Mint Juleps. One even used chocolate mint, it was kind of like eating a York Peppermint Patty and sipping Maker’s Mark.
Count me in the minority, I suppose because I could drink a mint julep all day long. Nice strong mint and good bourbon are definitely the key ingredients to me. I do hope to travel down for the Derby in the next few years and have an authentic julep then.
Gumtree,
Excellent recipe and observations. I’ll differ on one item. Drink from a proper silver Julep cup rather than a glass Derby cup. Something about how the metal gets extra extra frosty from the crushed ice. (and it’s a good excuse to polish some of the silver)!
The chain restaurant Applebees usually has a very good, easy to drink (and reasonable calorie count) bourbon mixed drink on it, I’ve realized. This probably makes the real bourbon drinkers cringe but I think this is the “best” I’ll ever be able to do.
All the hype about Woodford Reserve mint juleps served in frosted silver cups is just that. According to this article last May, the cheap seats haven’t been drinking the real mint julep in 2 decades.
http://www.eater.com/drinks/2015/5/1/8519321/the-history-of-the-kentucky-derby-mint-julep
