Louisville Restaurants Toast Mint Julep Month

The classic Bourbon cocktail of the Kentucky Derby season – the Mint Julep – will be celebrated in Louisville during the entire month of April.

For the fourth straight year, Mint Julep Month will kick off on April 1. Several of the city’s popular drinking and dining spots, including many of the stops along Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail pub crawl, are offering Mint Julep drink and dessert specials.

From Mint Julep pancakes and cupcakes to a Mint Julep lemonade and latte, here’s a rundown of some of the specials under way celebrating the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.

*Asiatique – Mint Julep featuring the restaurant’s housemade ginger simple syrup.

*The Bakery at Sullivan University – Mint Julep Cupcake (Bourbon chocolate cake with mint icing. $2). Also, Mint Julep Cream Pie (Chocolate Bourbon pastry cream with chocolate curls, fresh mint and mint whipped cream. Whole pie ($16.50); tartlet ($2.50); and mini tart ($1.25).

*Bar at BLU – A Chocolate Julep Martini. Also, Bourbon Chocolate Mousse with Crème de Menthe Chantilly Cream and topped with a cherry.

*Bourbon Raw – Mint Julep made with Woodford Reserve and strawberry mint simple syrup. Served over crushed ice and garnished with a strawberry slice and mint sprig.

*Bourbons Bistro – In honor of Mint Julep Month, the restaurant will offer its Happy Hour price during the month of April. Order up a traditional Mint Julep for $5.

*Bristol Bar & Grille (Downtown location) – Three Mint Juleps on special, including: Garden Julep (Muddled fresh herbs of rosemary, mint and basil with Early Times 354 and Drambuie. Served on the rocks. $8); Royal Julep (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond and Benedictine with muddled fresh mint and simple syrup. Served over crushed ice. $9); Ginger Julep Martini (Basil Hayden with a touch of white Crème de Menthe and ginger infused simple syrup chilled and served up. $9.50).

*Derby Café at the Kentucky Derby Museum – Mint Julep in an official Kentucky Derby glass. Also, Strawberry Mint Julep Shortcake.

*Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar – Two Mint Julep drink specials, including: Near Eastern Julep (Old Grand-Dad Bonded, ginger, Becherovka and basil) and Mint Julep Lemonade (Henry McKenna Single Barrel, lemon juice, sugar and mint). Both are $9.

*Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant – “Made to Run, Born to Fly” Mint Julep (Michter’s, tea infused Honey Shrub and mint leaves). $10.

*Haymarket Whiskey Bar – Cucumber Basil Mint Julep (Knob Creek Single Barrel 120 Proof, housemade cucumber syrup and muddled mint and basil. Served over crushed ice).

*Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar – Derby-Pie slices for $5.

*North End Café – Old Forester Peach Julep Pancakes (Old Forester Bourbon soaked peaches over Corn Mill pancakes with Bourbon mint syrup and homemade whipped cream). Also, I.W. Harper Blood Julep (Blood orange syrup, brown sugar mint simple syrup with I.W. Harper Bourbon and mint garnish).

*O’Shea’s Downtown – Mint Julep Margarita (This take on the classic Mint Julep features Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon, Jose Cuervo Tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice and a housemade mint simple syrup).

*Proof on Main – The “Hot to Trot” cocktail by Damien Cooke, who is the winner of the 2016 Four Roses Mint Julep Contest, will be on special at Proof. (Features Four Roses Yellow Label, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Demerara cayenne syrup, Fernet-Branca and mint leaves).

*Seviche – Mint Julep Parfait (Made with bourbon cake, grasshopper pie mousse and mint crema). Also, Kentucky Kombucha Mint Julep (Made with mint syrup, jasmine kombucha and Maker’s Mark).

*Sidebar at Whiskey Row – Strawberry Basil Julep (Buffalo Trace, strawberry puree, simple syrup and basil. Garnished with basil and strawberry puree.

Varanese – Four Roses Single Barrel Country Fried Apple Mint Julep.

*Vint – Vint Julep (This latte features Bourbon Barrel Foods Bourbon Smoked Sugar and Mint Julep Sugar and peppermint syrup).

Besides drink and dessert specials, several local retail shops also have products celebrating the Mint Julep, including Moss Hill Bath & Body Collection (Mint Julep scented lotion, soaps, candles and more); Louisville Stoneware (Mint Julep cups handpainted with the recipe); and Bourbon Barrel Foods (Mint Julep Sugar). The Louisville Visitors Center is selling a Mint Julep gift set (Louisville Stoneware Mint Julep cup, Louisville Slugger miniature bat for muddling, Mint Julep mix and a Muth’s Bourbon ball). The store is also selling Mint Julep coasters, ornaments, lip balm and soap.

History of the Mint Julep: The exact origins of the Mint Julep are unknown, but it is said to have originated in the Southern United States during the 18^th century. U.S. Sen. Henry Clay of Kentucky introduced the drink to Washington D.C. at the Round Robin Bar in the famous Willard Hotel. The Mint Julep was also the favorite drink of American author William Faulkner. It’s perhaps best known as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, an honor it has held since 1938. Churchill Downs pours more than 120,000 of them for Derby fans each year.

For more Mint Julep Month specials, visit www.gotolouisville.com.