Derby Drink

How to make a honey-blessed mint julep for the big race

We knew mint juleps were the drink of choice at the Kentucky Derby, but whoa! Did you know that about 120,000 mint juleps are served each year at the annual thoroughbred race inside the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Ky.? That’s a LOT of mint juleps!

According to kentuckyderby.com, the feat requires more than 10,000 bottles of ready-to-serve bourbon cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice. Luckily it’ll take a lot less to make one at home. And a little AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey will add just the perfect amount of sweet.

Honey-kissed Mint Julep

Ingredients

2 tbsp hot water
3 mint leaves
1 tbsp AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey
2 oz bourbon
Crushed ice
Mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions

Add hot water and mint leaves in a cocktail mixer; stir until wilted. Add AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey and stir until dissolved. Let mixture stand until cool, then strain and discard mint.

Combine 2 ounces of bourbon with honey mint syrup. Pour bourbon mixture over crushed ice in a frosted tumbler or tall glass.

Garnish with mint sprigs.