The mint julep symbolizes the tradition of hospitality and domestic joy. The essential mint julep is made with bourbon and mint syrup poured over ice and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint.
The mint julep is not only a Kentucky favorite or even a mere southern tradition; it is indeed an American classic that excites passion, curiosity and more than a little enchantment.
The julep has its roots in the English practice of infusing alcohol with fruit, fruit juices, cucumbers or other cooking ingredients in the summertime.
The word ‘julep’ derives from an ancient Arabic and Persian drink called ‘julap’, which translates ‘rose water’.
That drink was made from crushing rose petals into water, but the roses were replaced with the more widely available and economic mint once the drink moved to the Mediterranean.
Although there are many recipes for this drink, in its purest and earliest form, it consists of sugar, bourbon, mint leaves and ice.
Prior to the Civil War, brandy or whiskey was common in a julep, but the poverty of the South after the war gave rise to the use of less expensive bourbon.
Beverage of mint julep
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