WHERE WE LIVE | PALATE
Southern Comfort Your mint julep just got a bit fresher. WRITTEN, STYLED & PHOTOGRAPHED BY KARA
MICKELSON
W
hether you’re headed to Kentucky and are truly “off to the races” or you’re planning your celebration at home, you will want to dive into the culture that makes Derby Day so popular. That means, among other things, getting acquainted with the iconic mint julep. There are the flamboyant fashion statements and a type of energy and enthusiasm that harkens back to earlier times. While the races draw the crowds, it’s easy to get sidetracked by the heady scent of mint and bourbon. Center stage: the mint julep—the official race cocktail, representing Southern hospitality and the glamour, pomp and circumstance of the occasion. Served in traditional sterling silver julep cups with crushed or shaved ice, the mint julep is essential to the Derby festivities, while not necessarily a local favorite. There is something about the fresh mint and bourbon that sets the festive mood. And when properly fashioned, it is a thirstquenching, refreshing drink with a hint of mint on a hot Southern day. Or unfortunately, when poorly crafted, the mint julep is something similar to overly sweet mouthwash. For some it’s not so much the exact amount of mint or bourbon or ice—as that can be attributed to personal taste—but more the ritual and finesse in making the drink that makes all the difference. So crank up the tunes, put on “One Mint Julep” by The Clovers and get to work. And while you are setting the scene and practicing your bartending skills for a Derby Day fete, be sure to research the infamous Hot Brown—a Kentucky staple and a good fallback when a little too much bourbon has coursed through your veins. The thick Mornay cheese sauce and white bread—layered with sliced turkey and topped with Parmesan cheese, bacon and tomato—is the perfect counterpoint to a day of indulgence … or after a day perfecting your julep.
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SOUTHBAY, MAY/JUNE 2017
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