The Commonwealth of Kentucky may be best known for two things — thoroughbred racing horses and crafting the world’s best bourbon whiskey. Every spring at Churchill Downs, Kentuckians celebrate both of these at the Kentucky Derby, often with a Mint Julep in hand.
This year, the Derby is celebrating its 150th anniversary. There’s no doubt that the celebrations will include the race’s signature beverage. The Mint Julep’s simple yet iconic mixture of bourbon, sugar, mint, and shaved ice, served in a metal cup, has long been intertwined with the Kentucky Derby.
“Kentucky Derby can be traced back to the 1820s when first place jockeys would receive a sterling silver julep cup as a trophy to commemorate their win,” says Ashley Roach, lead bartender at Louisville bourbon bar Watch Hill Proper. “This is the same iconic tin cup that any proper julep has been served in since its inception.”
“The Mint Julep became the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby in 1939 after patrons of the 1938 Derby were filching the decorated water glasses from the event,” says SC Baker, bar manager at Louisville cocktail bar Epiphany. “The organizers decided to capitalize on the burgeoning trend and in 1939 the Mint Julep came in its first collector’s cup.” This year’s 150th Kentucky Derby will also mark the 85th anniversary of the iconic metal Mint Julep cups being a fixture among spectators.
The drink itself is remarkably uncomplicated. “The classic Mint Julep has four ingredients: bourbon, mint, sugar, and crushed ice, served in a Julep tin,” says Dante Wheat, bar manager at Louisville’s Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop. With such a straightforward drink, the quality of every ingredient matters, especially the whiskey.
Sarah Maiden / Food & Wine
So, what should you look for when choosing the right bourbon for a Mint Julep?
“First, it has to be good on its own,” says Jeff Knott, owner and operator of the Tartan House. “[Because] the Julep is such a simple cocktail, there’s no real way to hide bad whiskey.”
Both Knott and Wheat recommend choosing a full-flavored whiskey at least 90-95 proof (45–47.5% ABV), something strong enough to stand up to the dilution as the crushed ice melts. Baker and Roach suggest a 100-proof (50% ABV) minimum bottling. Whatever you settle on, make sure to pick a whiskey that you’d enjoy sipping neat.
“Availability is always a factor,” says Roach. “In our current bourbon boom, it’s getting harder and harder to find certain labels. I recommend getting familiar with the bottles you see regularly on the shelves.”
Thankfully, liquor stores are full of affordable and available whiskeys, perfectly suited for making a delicious and refreshing Mint Julep. Which are worth picking up? We asked some of Kentucky’s top bar pros to recommend their favorite bourbons to use in the Derby’s signature cocktail.
Buffalo Trace
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Few Kentucky whiskeys have the reputation of the flagship bourbon from Frankfort’s legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery. In certain parts of the country, Buffalo Trace’s popularity has made this whiskey difficult to find, but if you can find it at the suggested price of $25, it’s an incredibly versatile spirit. Approachable and sweet, it offers mellow notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and toffee with a hint of rye spice and a light oakiness.
With its classic bourbon flavor profile, this whiskey should be one of the first you consider for a Julep.
“Buffalo Trace is an obvious choice for a cocktail that is whiskey-forward,” says Roach. “It will partner up perfectly with the mint and sugar, allowing the accompanying flavors to shine without losing the body and character of the whiskey.”
Larceny Small Batch
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Larceny Small Batch is what’s referred to as a “wheated” bourbon, meaning that the secondary grain in the mash bill is wheat instead of the more commonly used rye. This style of bourbon is prized for its easy sipping profile, but it works beautifully when mixed as well. “The softer, rounded profile of this wheated bourbon creates a really great balance in a Julep,” says Knott. “The caramel notes go extremely well with the mint, making both flavors stand out instead of masking each other.”
Worth noting, there’s more complexity to Larceny than the spirit’s smoothness lets on. “Its palate is delicate, with cinnamon spice, nutmeg, and baking spices contrasting with notes of sweet honey,” says Roach. “This is a very inviting bourbon, sweet and smooth but also bold. Its softness makes for a Julep that will be balanced and slightly sweet.”
Woodford Reserve
Sarah Maiden / Food & Wine
Since 1999, Woodford Reserve has held the title of “official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby,” and deservedly so — it’s an excellent choice for a Mint Julep.
“Woodford’s mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley allows it to be bold and complex, with flavors of dried fruit, cinnamon, toffee, and chocolate, with hints of mint and citrus,” says Roach. Woodford Reserve releases a limited edition Kentucky Derby bottle to commemorate the race every year.
Wheat also recommends upgrading to the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, if available. “It is less spice and [more] vanilla cotton candy mixed with dark cherries,” he says. “With Double Oaked in a Mint Julep you don’t need additional sugar, just add fresh mint crushed ice and enjoy the races.”
If you’re lucky enough to visit Churchill Downs, Woodford Reserve offers a special Thousand Dollar Julep that comes in a handmade silver cup. This year, Woodford Reserve is donating the proceeds from the Thousand Dollar Julep to the Backside Learning Center, an independent non-profit organization that provides support and resources for the racetrack workers who make the Kentucky Derby happen every year.
J.W. Dant Bottled in Bond
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This affordable offering from the Heaven Hill Distillery is bottled-in-bond bourbon, giving it all of the strength and flavor necessary to make a great Julep. “[J.W. Dant] is one of the most underrated bottles of bourbon on the market,” says Wheat. “It has a finish of warm baking spices that play beautifully with the brightness of fresh mint in the Julep.”
“Its vibrant spice bouquet and mild sweetness plays well with the earthy freshness of mint, and the 100-proof point will ensure you can still actually taste your bourbon after you’ve crowned it with a hefty scoop of shaved ice,” says Baker. “It retails for a modest $15-20 per bottle, so you can make Juleps for the entire infield.”
Four Roses Single Barrel
Sarah Maiden / Food & Wine
The Kentucky Derby is often referred to as “the run for the roses,” so it makes perfect sense to mix a Julep with Four Roses Single Barrel. This widely available single-barrel product has notes of ripe plums, blackberry, and rich cherry with baking spice, citrus fruits, and a slight herbaceous flowery accent that provides contrast.
“Despite the palate of this 100-proof bourbon being somewhat of a flavor bomb on its own, [when] diluted into a frosty, minty concoction, it mingles well with the components of the drink… its natural fruity sweetness bolsters the crisp mint and warming spiciness,” says Baker.
Given that this pick is a single-barrel bourbon, no two barrels will taste exactly the same. “Using a single barrel expression in your cocktail will deliver a libation that is unique in character and will have a noticeable contrast to a small batch label,” says Roach.
Knob Creek 9 Year
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Hailing from the James B. Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, Knob Creek is a 100-proof workhorse that plays beautifully alongside the sugar and mint in a Julep. This small batch, no age-stated bourbon is affordable, readily available, and packed with flavor.
“[Knob Creek] is one of my all-time favorite bourbons,” says Baker. “There is a note reminiscent of spiced, roasted nuts, with warm vanilla, brown sugar, green peppercorn, and baking spice that I like juxtaposing with something verdant like herbs.”
If you like your Juleps made with high-octane bourbon, consider picking up one of Knob Creek’s 9-year-old, 120-proof, single-barrel offerings. If you favor oaky sweetness, Knob Creek 12 is another excellent option.
Blanton’s Takara Gold
Sarah Maiden / Food & Wine
The Kentucky Derby has a well-earned reputation for extravagance and there are few bourbons as extravagant as Blanton’s Takara Gold. Topped with a miniature jockey riding a horse, Blanton’s is already closely associated with horse racing, but this export-only single-barrel bourbon ratchets up the opulence. For a Mint Julep that matches the over-the-top nature of the Derby, this expression of Blanton’s is sure to impress.
Wheat fully acknowledges the apparent absurdity of using an incredibly rare and expensive single-barrel bourbon in a cocktail, but according to him, the results are too good to ignore.
“It’s 8 years in the barrel giving it a raisin quality similar to Cognac that really shines when you add mint and a small drop of sugar to it,” he says. “A light pepper finish from the rye washes the sweetness off your palate, making an extremely balanced and inviting cocktail that continually holds your interest as the ice slowly melts and Julep tin frosts over.”
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