National Mint Julep Day 🍹

Overview

National Mint Julep Day, celebrated annually on May 30th, honors the iconic American cocktail known for its refreshing blend of bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup, and crushed ice. Traditionally served in a chilled silver or pewter cup, this Southern classic is most famously associated with the Kentucky Derby, where it has become a quintessential part of the annual horse racing festivities.

Origin and story

The Mint Julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938.

Over 120,000 Mint Juleps are served at Churchill Downs during the two-day Kentucky Derby weekend each year.

Quick facts

• DateMay 30
• TypeFood / Dessert
• Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers

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Ways to celebrate

The mint julep started out as medicine in Persia, long before it became a symbol of Southern hospitality or a Derby-day tradition.

Trace it back to a Persian rosewater elixir

The julep's roots trace to the Sasanian Empire (224–651 AD), where a rosewater concoction called "gulab" was prescribed for shortness of breath and stomach trouble, later spreading through trade as far as India.

Know its Virginia morning-drink era

By the early 1800s, juleps made with mint, sugar, crushed ice, and spirits like gin, rum, or brandy were a fixture of genteel Southern life — one of the earliest written references, from 1803, describes it as a morning "dram of spirituous liquor" enjoyed by Virginians.

Read the fuller history

Helpful resources:

• Mint Julep: The Origins of the Derby's Official Drink (CNN)

Did you know?

Silver julep cups were already being awarded as horse-racing trophies in the 1820s, decades before the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 — meaning the drink and the racetrack were linked long before it became the Derby's official beverage in 1938.

Fun facts

• The Mint Julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938.
• Over 120,000 Mint Juleps are served at Churchill Downs during the two-day Kentucky Derby weekend each year.
• The term "julep" originates from an Arabic word, "gulab," meaning rosewater, and the drink was initially used medicinally.

Sources and attribution

Mint Julep: The Origins of the Derby's Official Drink (CNN)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Mint Julep Day?

It is observed on May 30 each year.

What is National Mint Julep Day?

National Mint Julep Day, celebrated annually on May 30th, honors the iconic American cocktail known for its refreshing blend of bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup, and crushed ice. Traditionally served in a chilled silver or pewter cup, this Southern classic is most famously associated with the Kentucky Derby, where it has become a quintessential part of the annual horse racing festivities.

How do people celebrate National Mint Julep Day?

Mix up a mint julep and trace its roots back to a Persian rosewater elixir prescribed for stomach trouble, centuries before it became a fixture of Southern mornings and, eventually, the Kentucky Derby's official drink.

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