The 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs is on May 5th. There is nothing more quintessentially southern than a cool Mint Julep on Derby Day. The recipe below is my favorite as it calls for muddling the mint with powdered sugar and a tiny bit of water to form a paste. Yummy!  Traditionally, mint juleps are served in small silver tumblers...but I am just girly enough to like my julep in a beautiful stemmed cocktail glass. Just seems so much more refreshing...

Did you know that many people believe that the Mint Julep is the predecessor of the popular Mojito?  The recipes are very similar!

1940's Kentucky Mint Julep



4 oz Bourbon

1 tsp powdered sugar

3 tablespoons water

12-16 fresh mint leaves

crushed ice

Put sprigs of mint in bowl, cover with powdered sugar and just enough water to dissolve sugar. Crush with wooden pestle. Place half of the crushed mint and liquid in the bottom of a 12 ounce tumbler. Half full with crushed ice. Add rest of mint liquid and finish filling with ice. pour in Bourbon until glass is brimming full and place in refrigerator for an hour or so. Serve with mint leaves dipped in powdered sugar.

From the book: Here's How Mixed Drinks compiled and edited by W. C. Whitfield (1941, Three Mountaineers, Inc.)