mint julep
It’s springtime in Kentucky, and the sun is shining.
Lilly Lewin gave me this recipe for Mint Julep – a Kentucky speciality,sepcially associated with the Kentucky Derby. I have to say it looks like the Kentucky equivalent of a Pimms – a curious English summer fruit punch made of lemonade, cucmbers, fruit and Pimms, which (IMHO) tastes like kids’ cough mixture – sweet and very sticky and vaguely medicinal.
As far as Mint Julep goes, I don’t usually drink bourbon. But I do make a point of trying as many as possible of the local customs wherever I go. I have smoked a hookah in Cairo, eaten horsemeat in Europe, drunk my tea without milk in Germany, eaten raw fish in Holland and whalemeat in Norway, and became completely addicted to Fritsaus (mayonnaise) on my chips in Amsterdam. So I think a mint Julep will be entirely in order – but after my session, not before! I know it’s a requirement of the job that Anglican priests can hold their drink, but judging by Lilly’s recipe, I’m not sure I could talk sensibly after a Mint Julep.
11 Responses to “mint julep”
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Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
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So, are you free to share the recipe with us? 
pax et bonum
Everyone has a different recipe, but this is allegedly a classic:
Mint Julep Recipe
In a bowl, place several fresh mint sprigs, 1 tsp. of sugar and 1/4 ounce of water. Crush the leaves with a spoon and stir all well. Fill a chilled tumbler with crushed ice, fill with Bourbon, and top with strained mixture. Or place a bit of the mixture into the chilled glass. Add a layer of crushed ice. Continue at least one more time, topping with ice. Pour Bourbon on top. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
We’ll have to see how Lilly’s compares.
In defence of Pimms, which seemed to get short shrift from Maggi; I reckon that Pimms is just about the best justification for the existence of 6pm on a sunny, summer’s evening – heaven!
A good spritzer, being a fair alternative
and with a new patio this year…
yippeeeeee
Welcome to the Bluegrass state Maggi! Great weather now too but you may have brought a big of England with you as will begin raining tonight – we’re used to it. Oh, and don’t be drinkin’ those Mint Julips around Asbury, they may haul you up on charges – eeek! Pax vobiscum.
let me be the first to blog that you did a great job tonight at WALP. thanks you for coming and sharing.
soupablog paul
i’d vote for mojitos over mint juleps, but what else do you expect from a miami native?
sure everyone is delighted to have you, maggi, and that your presence is a real blessing. much love to you.
John – click the link, the recipe is there.
Alas, alas – I didn’t get to taste the Mint Julep after all. OR fried Chicken! and thereby hangs a tale. But I did get to eat corn bread and chicken salad at the Whistlestop Cafe
not fried green tomatoes?
Unfortunately, the dining options in fair Wilmore, Kentucky can hardly be described as numerous or varied. It’s an extremely small place, with two traffic lights (as of the time I went to college there). Wilmore is also a ‘dry’ city (no liquour bought/sold). One has to drive over to Nicholasville or Lexington (my hometown) to get a taste of the recipe.
Maggi, I hope you enjoyed some of the scenery. I was just down there last weekend with my fiance (whom I met at university in Lancaster, England) and we had a great time.
[An adjustment to the first recipe linked: chill the glasses/tumblers ahead of time. Bourbon is quite aromatic and stored at room temperature, so all of the stirring called for will diminish the flavor.]
maggie,
i’m so disappointed i ended up having to miss the conference and thus you, but i’m sure it was great.
as for reginal drinks, i’m a huge fan of the margarita and haven’t found one anywhere else in the world that compares to a real mexican margarita. i’ve recently discovered caiprinha made with fresh lime juice, lots of sugar and brazilian cachaca. packs a powerful punch and is very refreshing.
and if you didn’t have fried green tomatoes you must hurry back as soon as possible to try some.
jessica
http://onourfaceworship.blogspot.com/
glad you made it home safely…
so sorry that we couldn’t find the chicken or the mint juleps!
that just means you’ll have to come back soon!
hope all is well…miss you already!
lilly