The Kentucky Derby always makes me think of Spring, sunshine, warming weather, and, of course, hats and mint juleps. Admittedly, I’ve never been much of a fan of any brown liqour. A friend’s husband is an aficionado so I figured he was the perfect person to tell me what kind of Bourbon would be for making Mint juleps for our Kentucky Derby party on Saturday.
He recommends:
Woodford Reserve (the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby)
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
Old Forester 86 proof
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve (if you want to spend the big bucks!)
Blanton’s Original
Now, with that said, I don’t think I’d be able to taste the difference between any of those, as I know my pallet is not that sophisticated when it comes to bourbon. Over 120,000 mint juleps were served during the derby weekend, so someone out there must know their bourbons!
But really - it’s just the means to the end to hold a cute drink in a silver cup! We’re having a small party on Saturday, and I found some affordable silver cups with the cutest beaded detail along the rim.
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My neighbor gave me a recipe a few years ago. It’s pretty good! The key is getting the simple syrup just right. For those who don’t drink bourbon often, this drink may be a bit strong. If so, just be sure to add plenty of crushed ice, additional simple syrup, and a couple extra splashes of water. That should dilute it enough to make it enjoyable.
For the simple syrup, add 1 cup of water and 1 1/4 cup of granulated sugar to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, boiling about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for roughly 1 - 2 weeks.
Want some cute barware to go with your mint julep? Look no further! These are some of the staples that I keep in my bar.
This stainless steel bar caddy covers everything you might need when mixing drinks. It comes in a sleek bamboo tray and sits nicely on top of any bar. I especially like that it comes with a jigger which is helpful in measuring out any liqour needed for mixed drinks. At $23 for 12 pieces, it's an excellent bargain.
It's not quite as good a bargain as the bar set above, but how oh-so-adorable is this bee bar set from Williams Sonoma? I just added it to my birthday wish list. It comes with a bottle opener, bar spoon, and six cocktail picks. It's made of white marble with an antique brass finish, and my gosh, does it ever look cute sitting on your bar in the summer?
If you have a smaller space but still want a cute bar in your kitchen or other living areas, this wall-mounted wine glass shelf from Anthropologie is perfect! You can display your favorite bottles or a fresh vase of flowers on the shelf, and the rack underneath holds up to 5 wine glasses. Sleek and perfect!
My husband and I went to Iceland a few years ago. We were lucky enough to have our first Michelin-star dining experience at a restaurant called Dill. If you go to Iceland, it's worth every penny! I still dream about the food several years later. They served a drink that paired with each course. Our beer was served in these old-fashioned glasses made by a company called Iittala. Made in Finland, the design of which is thought to be inspired by the melting ice in Lapland. They have a nice weight to them and feel good in your hand. Naturally, I hopped online to order a couple of pairs the second we got home.
Enjoy those mint juleps!
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