Mint Julep

When it comes to signature cocktails from sporting events, the Mint Julep is perhaps the most iconic and certainly one of the most delicious. The Mint Julep has been the drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1939, but references to the cocktail go as far back as the year 900, when people sipped it for medicinal purposes. The word "julep" originates in the Middle East from the Spanish Arabic term "julepe," as well as the Persian word golab, which translates to rosewater. Both terms refer to sweetened syrups that helped mask the taste of astringent medicines. The Mint Julep's inception in the American South tells a similar origin story — sweetened syrups flavored with mint can be found in prescription records from the late 1700s.

In the 1800s, the drink's fame moved from the pharmacy to the bar and, eventually, to the racetrack. Unsurprisingly, the rise in popularity of the cocktail coincided with the increase in the prevalence of ice houses in bars and taverns. The chilled cocktail, served in a silver cup filled to the brim with chipped ice, was a welcome respite from the heat of the South. For much of the 1800s, the Mint Julep was consumed as a morning cocktail — how this trend hindered the rise of the American industry remains unconfirmed.

The celebratory cocktail has been served since the late 1930s at the Kentucky Derby, the legendary horse race held annually at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. Served from morning till night at the all-day sporting event, the signature cocktail is just one of many Southern touches that make the Kentucky Derby memorable and unique (looking at you, over-the-top Derby hats).

Though there are a few regional variations, a few things are non-negotiable when making a Mint Julep — muddle the mint leaves to express their fragrant essential oils and add simple syrup and bourbon. Finally, the cup is filled with chipped ice and garnished with a sprig of mint. While Kentucky whiskey or bourbon is the spirit of choice for a contemporary Mint Julep, historically, gin, brandy, cognac, or even rum have also been used. Although the first Saturday in May might be the most iconic day to sip a Mint Julep (the traditional date of the Kentucky Derby), the refreshing cocktail is welcome year-round.