So, get this – back in the day, ingredients for a Mint Julep recipe would have to have been prepped at dawn since it was considered a breakfast drink, enjoyed by members of the Virginian high society at the height of summer. Yip, those fancy ladies and gents would be sipping on it right there at the 1800s breakfast table. What a time to be alive!
Since then, the drink has had a starring role in The Great Gatsby in the hand of the novel’s hapless heroine Daisy, who chose the Mint Julep as her summertime cocktail. In the real world, it’s perhaps best known as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, where the cooling cocktail is sipped along the racetrack as thoroughbreds compete for the winning title.
It’s also worth noting (and an interesting fact to share with friends over drinks) that the julep itself is actually a category of drinks that refers to cocktails featuring a spirit served over crushed ice. While you can happily serve it in a rocks glass without raising any eyebrows, a classic Mint Julep is traditionally served in a silver or pewter Julep cup that is held by the handle or rim so the cup maintains optimum frost.