*theme music starts*
Well, the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, which means millions of people in America are dusting off their derby hats
and salivating at the thought of a frosty mint julep.
I'm gonna put the recipe for this drink in the description below,
but it's important to note that there are dozens of different variations on how to make the mint julep.
Now first, let's talk about mint.
A lot of people actually over-muddle their mint,
and the best way to understand what this is like is just to take a mint leaf like this
and bring it close to your nose, give it a little taste; you'll notice that it smells fresh and doesn't really taste like much.
And then take the leaf and gently press on the surface, what you're doing here is releasing some of the mint oils.
And what you'll notice is that when you smell this again it'll be a lot more fragrant but still will not taste bitter.
Alright, now let's mangle this mint leaf as if you were really over-muddling it.
So if you crush it up like this...
And put it into a little ball, you're gonna be breaking all those little veins and releasing a bunch of the chlorophyll in the leaf.
Now when you taste it, it'll have a strong, bitter taste to it.
So that little experiment should show you why you need to be gentle when muddling your mint.
So I'm gonna break from my typical style of video right now, and while I make this mint julep I'm going to recite a bit of prose
first published in the late 19th century by Kentucky judge and journalist Joshua Soule Smith.
Consider it an ode to the mint julep, hope you enjoy it.
"Then comes the zenith of man's pleasure.
Then comes the julep – the mint julep.
Who has not tasted one has lived in vain.
The honey of Hymettus brought no such solace to the soul;
the nectar of the Gods is tame beside it.
It is the very dream of drinks, the vision of sweet quaffings.
The Bourbon and the mint are lovers.
In the same land they live, on the same food they are fostered.
The mint dips infant leaf into the same stream that makes The Bourbon what it is.
The corn grows in the level lands through which small streams meander.
By the brook-side the mint grows.
As the little wavelets pass, they glide up to kiss the feet of the growing mint, and the mint bends to salute them.
Gracious and kind it is, living only for the sake of others.
The crushing of it only makes its sweetness more apparent.
Like a woman's heart, it gives its sweetest aroma when bruised.
Among the first to greet the spring, it comes.
Beside the gurgling brooks that make music in the pastures, it lives and thrives.
When the bluegrass begins to shoot its gentle sprays towards the sun, mint comes, and its sweetest soul drinks at the crystal brook.
It is virgin then.
But soon it must be married to old Bourbon.
His great heart, his warmth of temperament, and that affinity which no one understands, demand the wedding.
How shall it be?
Take from the cold spring some water, pure as angels are; mix it with sugar until it seems like oil.
Then take a glass and crush your mint within it with a spoon – crush it around the borders of the glass and leave no place untouched.
Then throw the mint away – it is a sacrifice.
Fill with cracked ice the glass; pour in the quantity of Bourbon which you want.
It trickles slowly through the ice.
Let it have time to cool, then pour your sugared water over it.
No spoon is needed; no stirring is allowed- just let it stand a moment.
Then around the brim place sprigs of mint, so that the one who drinks may find the taste and odor at one draft.
When it is made, sip it slowly.
August suns are shining, the breath of the south wind is upon you.
It is fragrant, cold, and sweet – it is seductive.
No maiden's touch could be more passionate.
Sip it and dream, you cannot dream amiss. Sip it and dream, it is a dream itself.
No other land can give so sweet a solace for your cares; no other liquor soothes you so in melancholy days.
Sip it and say there is no solace for the soul, no tonic for the body like old Bourbon whiskey.
Cheers!
So back in the day, the mint julep actually was somewhat of a status symbol.
To have one prepared for you meant that you were part of the elite.
In part because it required a bunch of ice, and that meant you had an icebox.
An icebox was somewhat hard to come by...