Mint Juleps are a Derbytime staple in Louisville, so what better way to celebrate the Kentucky Derby Festival than with a parallel Mint Julep Month?
If you’ve never had a Mint Julep, make it a point to try one during this Derby season. I don’t think you can call yourself a Louisvillian until you have tried our favorite local cocktail. During April in Louisville, several local restaurants and businesses will be serving up different takes on our city’s native cocktail. The Bristol Downtown will have an entire menu of alternative Mint Juleps, from one with rosemary and basil to a Ginger Julep Martini. Doc Crow’s will feature a Mint Julep lemonade, and LaCoop will use cognac instead of whiskey in their Mint Julep. The Derby Café will be serving Juleps in a souvenir glass with your choice of three different bourbons. They will also offer a non-alcoholic version with iced tea. Click here for a full listing of participating restaurants and businesses.
Mint Julep Month will also celebrate julep-inspired desserts. Art Eatables will launch their brand new Maker’s Mark Mint Julep Small Batch Truffle for the occasion. Sullivan University Culinary Students will be making their annual Mint Julep Cupcakes. Perhaps one of the more interesting desserts will be the The Brown Hotel’s Mint Julep Trifle, available at the English Grill, which will be layers of mint mousse and bourbon-ginger gelée with an almond crust.
Lest you think the restaurants get to have all the fun for Mint Julep Month, Westport Whiskey and Wine is hosting a Julep Cocktail Class, led by Joy Perrine, on Tuesday April 15 at 7 p.m. Reservations for this event are requested but not required. The “Bad Girl of Bourbon” will be teaching participant how to make at least six different kinds of juleps.
And of course, Mint Julep Month would not be complete without Mint Julep Sugar from Bourbon Barrel Foods, the collectable Early Times Mint Julep bottle, designed by Louisville native Ashley Cecil, or a special on classic Louisville Stoneware Mint Julep Cups.
There are so many ways to celebrate Mint Juleps during Derbytime. If you find any new ones, be sure to Tweet @culinarylou. Use the hashtag #MintJulepMonth when you Tweet about your own Mint Julep excursions. Happy Mint Julep Month, Louisville!
Photos Courtesy of Woodford Reserve Facebook Page, Early Times Facebook Page, and Louisville Stoneware Facebook Page
