Tuesday, April 13, 2010

How Much Would You Pay for a Mint Julep?


In my town, Derby season is in full tilt, so every dress shop is featuring colorful prints with gorgeous hats; men’s stores are showcasing dapper suits with natty ties, nubuck shoes and lots of seersucker; restaurants are advertising boxed lunches for the big day; and images of roses are everywhere in honor of the Run for the Roses.

Of course, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby is the mint julep. My mother often says that a mint julep is a waste of good bourbon, but when “My Old Kentucky Home” is playing as the horses make their way to the post, well, a cold mint julep in the hand is a must. In fact, it's somewhat sacrilegious if you don’t have one. It’s like not wearing a hat to the Derby. It’s just not done, sugar.

So, I had to share the latest addition to this year’s Derby festivities: the $1,000 julep. For a mere $1,000, you can have a mint julep served in an exclusive Tiffany & Co. silver cup. It features Woodford Reserve bourbon, organic sugar from Brazil, mint from Louisville grown in a Woodford Reserve barrel, and ice from a 10,000-year-old glacier near the Gulf of Alaska. Sure, I’ll take two.

Proceeds from the special concoction benefit the Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center. So, you high-rollers out there, if you get a hankering for a good drink while at Churchill on May 1, consider one of these babies. Visit Woodford Reserve’s website for more details. But, if you can’t afford the julep, I highly recommend a visit to Kentucky’s Bourbon trail for a tour of Woodford Reserve. It sits amid the horse farms in Versailles, Ky. and is simply beautiful. And, before you leave, be sure to visit the gift shop to purchase a bottle of Woodford. Perfection.
Photo courtesy of The Courier-Journal

17 comments:

Trish {Pink Preppy Lilly Lover} said...

Those Tiffany mint julep glasses are actually very pretty (albeit a pretty high price tag!)

Woodford Reserve sounds amazing, although I have still got to try your recommendation of the 15-year Pappy Van Winkle. I think I need to make a trip to KY and you and I need a bourbon tasting visit!! :)

sara said...

Hmmm...I'll admit, I'm not a mint julep fan (Did a KY girl just confess that? Gasp!), and I don't have $1k laying around, but I'd love to have one of these just to say I had one and to have that beautiful julep cup.

JMW said...

Trish, I think you're on to something! Perhaps we need to get some of our blogger friends and plan a trip on the Bourbon Trail. Could make for a fun weekend!

Anonymous said...

If I had an extra grand lying around I would love to take that beauty home with me. Im with Trish...the Reserve sounds amazing! Hope your having a wonderful day! xoxo

QueenBeeSwain said...

if I had the dough, I'd drop it on it!

so getting a MJ this weekend when I'm in Savannah with my sis!

xoox

kHm

Heather said...

I went to Louisville for the first time over Easter. I loved it!

BLC :o said...

I'll take two too! :) Hehe. Xoxo-BLC

pve design said...

I love the classic mint julep cup and I plan to do a post on all of my sister's cups! I will come on the trip as long as we can go to Shaker Town!
pve

Trish {Pink Preppy Lilly Lover} said...

Agreed, let's plan it, Bourbon Trail here we come - I'm ALL IN! :)

Main Line Sportsman said...

I remember reading about this 1 K Julep last year.
I think Wooodford Reserve is a little hot on the palate. I like my Bourbon with a bit less spice/heat. But mellowed with the sweet and mint it might work. By the way...Blooger Bourn=bon Dork just did a post on Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old etc which reminded me of your comment on my post...thought it might interest you.
So...do you get good seats for the race or what?

Beth Dunn said...

That is a gorgeous cup! I love Derby Day. We always celebrate. We are also serving them at a horse show in Lex this summer (and Lilly Pulitzer too). xoxo
SC

Elizabeth said...

i'm a kentucky girl, but i dont like the mint julep. i went to derby one year and just had to get one because that's what you do, but i ended up just drinking a few sips and tossing the rest!

if i had an extra grand laying around i'd splurge on the mint julep cup though. anything in a blue box is perfection to me.

oh, it's pretty sad that i live her and have never been to woodford reserve! i need to get out more i guess:)

ALR said...

I would not pay a lot, I think they taste terrible. I do love the cups, I have a small collection of five. I mainly use them for flowers. I can't believe it is almost Derby time already.

The Blabbers said...

Oh my goodness... $1000? That is amazing! I have to be honest and say I have never had mint julep but that cup is beautiful! Thanks for stopping by our blog the other day :)

Chic Coles said...

That cup is so beautiful.

bevy said...

My mother has 12 sterling julep cups, and my sister and I hint at her all the time about how much we would love to each have 6!

I'm not much of a bourbon drinker. I think a single magnolia or camellia looks divine in one!

the pink prep said...

i saw this too --- oh, wouldn't it be nice to have THIS as a momento?