VIDEO: How To (And Not To) Make A Mint Julep
With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, the mint julep will soon be on many a racing fan’s mind. Since 1938, this great American cocktail has been the official beverage of the famed horse race. It’s a simple, yet complex drink consisting of four ingredients: bourbon, mint, rich syrup, and crushed ice.
Bartender/historian/Southern Gentleman Chris McMillian makes what many believe to be the best mint julep in the country. Here he is preparing the classic drink. You’ve got to admit it looks damn tasty.
That poem Chris is reciting is called “The Zenith of Man’s Pleasure” and it was written by Kentucky newspaperman J. Soule Smith in the 1890s.
Now, as promised, here’s how to completely butcher the recipe and make a mint julep so bad, it’s no longer technically a mint julep. You know you’re off to a bad start when you begin things by stating that the mint julep is like a mojito, only with bourbon. It’s not. (There is absolutely no citrus in a mint julep.)
The best part of this video has got to be when she so thoughtfully reminds us not to forget to add our Sprite. Can you imagine paying $20 for this “bad boy.” Click here to read the hilariously angry YouTube comments.