Mint Julep

Film epics

What do the films “Gone with the Wind” and “James Bond – Goldfinger” have in common? Well, first of all both are called timeless classics. Now you might ask yourself what these film epics are doing in a barrel blog. I will gladly answer this question and what a famous horse race has to do with it in the following lines

Mint Julep

Now, before I come to the horses, first the films. In both, the drink of choice is a “Mint Julep”. One could perhaps call this one a cocktail. But to be honest, I find that a little difficult to do. The Mint Julep existed long before the word cocktail for mixed drinks first appeared.

So what did Scarlet O’Hara and James Bond drink in their upper-class society?

The recipe is as simple as it is delicious: Bourbon, mint, ice, sugar and a little water. Mixed in the right proportion, this drink provides refreshment and variety on the drinks menu.

Mint Julep

Equipment:
A highball glass/julep cup and a bar spoon.

Ingredients:
6 cl Bourbon / Rye Whiskey
2 cl mint syrup
1 – 2 sprigs of mint leaves

Instructions:
Fill the highball glass or julep cup about one third full with crushed ice. Add the Whiskey and mint syrup and stir vigorously with a bar spoon for about 5 seconds. Top up with crushed ice and form ice mounds on top of the drink. Finally, decorate with mint sprigs.

A man in grey morning dress with a top hat, blue tie and matching handkerchief and wearing a badge for the Royal Enclosure at Ascot is standing next to his wife, who is wearing a colourful dress under a cream jacket with a pearl necklace and earrings, sunglasses and a cream mesh hat. They have their arms round each other and are both laughing and smiling at the camera. In the background is a poster on the wall showing men in top hats and morning dress.

Upper-Class

As speaking of upper-class and stylish drinking. Doesn’t the scenery of a horse race quickly come to mind? Women with (ridiculously) big hats, men with moustaches smoking cigars… These are the stereotypes you (and I) think of.

And a decently mixed drink is also part of it. A decent mint julep!

That’s what the Woodford distillery in Versailles, Kentucky thought. And that’s how they have been creating a whisky every year for the Kentucky Derby horse race for 146 years now.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby

The Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby is not only attractive for collectors, but also for connoisseurs. The aroma is soft and creamy with distinct honey, roasted oak and vanilla, slightly spicy – in the background notes of leather, cocoa and butterscotch are evident.

The taste is full-bodied – very creamy with a pleasant mouthfeel, again there is a pleasant spiciness, joined by notes of almonds, ginger and roasted coffee beans. One tastes some oak and a lot of rye.

Almost too good to mix. But only almost! Especially in combination with the other ingredients this bourbon is the ideal basis for the Contemporary Classic, as the Bartender Association calls the Mint Julep.