2024 marks the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. To help celebrate the occasion, Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky is release a $1,000 Mint Julep in a Silver Cup with 44 hand-laid green crystals and a $5,000 Mint Julep in a Gold Cup featuring 44 synthetic white sapphires. If this sounds expensive, well, it is but, it’s all for a good cause. The proceeds for this year’s 200 silver cups and 100 gold cups will be going to The Backside Learning Center, an independent non-profit organization that provides support and resources for racetrack workers and their families.
Now, if you can’t purchase a cup this year you can still pretend you belong on the famous racetracks Millionaire’s Row by making the same mint julep at home. Here is the full 2024 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep cocktail recipe.
How Make ‘The Rose Mint Julep’
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 tsp. of rose-infused honey simple syrup (recipe below)
- 6 Mint Leaves
- Miniature rose buds, for garnish
Directions
- Wipe mint leaves inside a julep cup, expressing the fragrances and flavor.
- Drop the leaves in the cup.
- Add rose-infused honey simple syrup, crushed ice and Woodford Reserve Bourbon to the cup.
- Garnish with mint and miniature rose buds.
Rose-infused Honey Simple Syrup (Allow 2 Months)
The rose-infused honey simple syrup is not difficult to make but you must allow time to make it. The full infusion process requires two months.
Put a handful of rose hips into a jar of honey (preferably Kentucky honey but your local honey will work too.). Let it sit for two months. Filter out any remaining rose hips. Add one part rose-infused honey and one part water to make simple syrup.
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