Run For The Roses or a Mint Julep

The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow (always the first Saturday in May)! Attending the Kentucky Derby is on my life experience bucket list. The perfect excuse to wear a pretty dress, don a large hat, and watch magnificent horses all while sipping a cocktail, and not just any cocktail, THE MINT JULEP.

Horseracing is in our blood. For nearly 50 years, our grandparents, William C. and Barbara Nelson, owned and operated Gunshy Manor, a 165-acre farm located in Redmond, Washington, that became one of Washington’s most successful breeding farms. It all started when Grandma Barbie bought a Thoroughbred mare named Triple Punch, a 1957 daughter of Triplean. Her first foal, the 1962 gelding Roman Mutiny, became my grandparents’ first winner and first stakes horse. Since that successful beginning, Gunshy Manor bred the winners of close to 600 races and the earners of nearly $4-million. From 1964 through 2009, Gunshy Manor appeared among the top ten on nine other occasions; and they were listed 21 more times among the top 50 state producers of Washington-bred earners. Gunshy Manor topped the state breeders list in 2007.

From that one mare, Gunshy Manor’s broodmare band grew to 13 mares in the mid-1980s and also served as station to homebred stallions Exclusive Listing, Put Em Up and Drumboggie. Among the many fine stakes horses they bred were three Gottstein Futurity winners: Prince Joda, Krupa and the filly Favored One, whose granddaughter Lexie Lou defeated 14 males in the 2014 Queen’s Plate (my kind of filly!). Gunshy Manor also bred Washington champions Norm’s Nephew and Margo’s Gift. And in 2014, my grandparents and Gunshy Manor were posthumously inducted into the Washington Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame as one of Washington State’s top breeders.

But as many times as I went to the horse races with my grandmother, I am embarrassed to admit I have never actually had a mint julep. So, this week, in advance of the Kentucky Derby, I decided to make my first batch of mint juleps. And while I of course already owned adorable horse drink stirrers (similar available here and here or try this cute inexpensive horseshoe version here), my Aunt Mary kindly lent me her silver julep cups for the big race. You can purchase your own inexpensive version of a stainless steel mint julep cup here.

During my mint julep research, I learned the classic recipe relies on crushed ice. While I have been eyeing a pebble icemaker for my new kitchen (btw Ryan would kill me at this point!), I do not have immediate access to crushed ice so I decided a blended frozen mint julep recipe was the way to go. You will find our recipe for the Gunshy Manor Mint Julep below. Already have plans for tomorrow? Don’t wait until the next Kentucky Derby to make the Gunshy Manor Mint Julep. Its too good to wait a whole year!

The Gunshy Manor Mint Julep

For the mint simple syrup:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
3/4 cup fresh mint leaves

For the mint julep:

4 oz. bourbon (I used used Trader Joe’s Kentucky Best Whiskey. A great price point for a blended cocktail!)
3 oz. mint simple syrup
1 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
2-3 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
2-3 cups of ice cubes (1 tray of ice cubes works perfectly for me)

Mint Julep Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water and mint leaves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and simple syrup has taken on a light green hue. Remove the pan from the heat and side aside to cool for 15 to 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and discard the mint leaves.

To make the frozen mint julep, in a blender combine the bourbon, the mint simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, mint leaves and ice and blend on medium-high speed until the mixture has a slush texture, about 1 minute.

Serve in a chilled metal cup and garnished with a mint spring and, of course, a horse stirrer. (Want to make your own cute stir sticks for the race? Inspired By Charm has a tutorial on how to DIY your own horse drink stirrers here.)

While I will not be in Kentucky tomorrow watching the Derby in person, I will be sitting on my couch, wearing a big hat with a Gunshy Manor frozen mint julep in hand. So cheers to you Grandma Barbie! Much to Big Pa’s chagrin, your horseracing legacy lives on and one day I will make it to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May!