The Mint Julep originated in the southern United States, probably during the eighteenth century. Traditionally, Mint Juleps were served in metal cups and held only by the bottom and top edges of the cup. This allows frost to form on the outside of the cup. Woodford Reserve is made at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky. It is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and no Kentucky Derby would be complete without the venerable Mint Julep on the first Saturday in May. For nearly a century the Mint Julep has been the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby. At the 2009 Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve is offering the world's most exclusive mint julep, served in a diamond encrusted, sterling silver mint julep cup. The $1000 Mint Julep is crafted using exotic ingredients from around the globe: hand cut sugar cane from Sainte Marie in France; Turkish mint grown near the Euphrates River; and ice made of water from an aquifer in the wilderness of Central Norway. I'm confident this one is just as good.

INGREDIENTS:

60ml Woodford Reserve Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon

4 sprigs fresh mint

1 teaspoon white sugar

METHOD:

Muddle 3 sprigs of mint (destalked), sugar and a dash of Woodford Reserve in bottom of glass to form taste. Hard pack the glass with crushed ice and add 30ml of Woodford Reserve. Fill with more crushed ice and add another 30ml of Woodford Reserve. Serve with a straw and drink from the base.

GARNISH:

Garnish with the fourth mint sprig. I have served mine in the stylish Woodford Reserve Copper Julep Cup.