A Guide to Mint Juleps for Derby Day

By Marie Gorbenko Published April 2022

Fantastical hats, prized thoroughbreds and American tradition are among the many things we love about the Kentucky Derby. Aside from the horse racing heritage, it is the famed mint julep that tops our Derby Day list. Did you know that this iconic drink has a centuries-old history that goes far beyond the stables? Here’s our ultimate guide to Derby Day mint juleps to get your taste buds off to the races!

The History Behind the Mint Julep

The mint julep’s origins date back to ancient Persia, where it was used as a rosewater bath called “gulab” for the empire’s nobility. Associated with health elixirs and either sipped straight or incorporated into cooked food, the julep became popular across the Middle East and southern Europe as both a medicine and as a skincare routine additive. The Mediterranean’s indigenous and ample mint supplies eventually replaced rose petals, and the moniker “gulab” morphed into “julab” and later into our “julep.” The julep reached America in the 18th century, where it was fashioned into a medicinal drink comprised of rum or brandy, honey and muddled mint - with wealthier drinkers adding costly ice to chill their concoctions to cut the bite.

When British taxes overpriced rum and brandy after the revolution, Americans turned to their native bourbon as a replacement spirit —one that thrived in Kentucky, and which remains an integral part of the state’s economy. Historians strongly posit that juleps were present at the very first Derby in 1875 and have been a staple of racing culture to this day, even becoming the Kentucky Derby’s official drink in 1939. While you can certainly splurge on a julep worth over $1,000 at the races—precious metal cup and all—we advocate for some more cost-effective recipes to try before the horses file into the starting gate.