Thirsty Thursday: The Mint Julep

April 29, 2010

My giveaway has ended, but no worries if you didn’t get a chance to enter.  I’m having another one pretty soon, once I have 100 followers.  Um, I’m at 99 now!  I’m going to draw the name today, and announce the winner tomorrow.  Good luck!  Thanks to all who entered.  Don’t forget about ordering a pair of Bonanno’s.  Only 4 days left.  Trust me, your feet will be so happy you did.

The location yesterday was:  Capri, more specifically, Anacapri (at the top of the island, very private).  Great guesses everyone.  Y’all sure know your locations!

To celebrate the upcoming Kentucky Derby this weekend, I decided to choose the cocktail of the Derby, the Mint Julep.  So refreshing and tasty!  I found the recipe here.

For starters, if you have a Mint Julep cup, this concoction will be perfect for it!  Make sure it is chilled.  My husband’s grandmother gives him one every year, as part of his birthday present, so we have many!  I use them for all sorts of occasions, from decorating, to serving drinks.  One year I bought miniature Chrysanthemums, and put them in all of them, decorating the mantle, bathrooms and all over the house one Christmas.  One day I hope to get them monogrammed, just haven’t gotten that far yet.

Ingredients:

2 cups Water
2 cups White sugar
1/2 cup Roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
32 fluid ounces Kentucky bourbon
8 sprigs fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions

  1. Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves
  2. Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each. (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person’s sweet tooth). Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw. Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups. Serve juleps on a silver platter.

And if I were at the Derby, this is what I would be wearing…*sigh*

J.Crew Crystal Patch Earrings

BCBGMaxAzria Haisha Heels in Gold

 photo credit

And instead of a hat, I’d go with a fascinator.  More particularly, this one.  LOVE it!  Wouldn’t it match so well with the ensemble too?  Such a shame this wonderful ensemble has to go to waste.  Ha!

If you are attending the Derby, have so much fun!  And an extra special good luck to Sara at Southern Comfort.  Her husband’s best friend has a horse that is racing in the Derby.  So exciting!
We all much cheer on Mission Impazible.  Fingers crossed!

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P.S. I wanted to wish my sister (#2 of the 6) a Happy Early Birthday!  She turns 28 tomorrow!  Because I have so much to write on my post tomorrow, I decided to celebrate it early.  Hope that’s okay with you.  🙂  The four oldest sisters will be in town tomorrow to help celebrate it with her, and we’re also running in a race together on Saturday morning.  The two youngest will still be in school, enjoying their last few weekends before heading home for the summer.  We’ll miss y’all tomorrow!  The birthday girl and I are the closest in age of the sisters, only 16 months separate us.  Needless to say, she only lives two and a half hours away, but that’s still way too far!

This is all 6 of us at Sister #4’s bridesmaid luncheon last January 2009.  My mom had all of us in 9 1/2 years.  Basically, it was just one long pregnancy.  Haha.  I’ve included the order number at the bottom of the photo.  And I know Sister #2 would like me to add that she was pregnant in this photo.  You’re welcome, A.  🙂
This was taken at my house, at our Annual Summer Backyard Barbecue last summer.  We were both pregnant, she was two months further along.
Here she is with the love of her life, W, taken when we visited her about a month ago.  W is now 7 months.
Happy Birthday, A!  Cannot wait to help you celebrate tomorrow!
Sorry I didn’t choose older photos, but I don’t have any stored on this computer.  
That’s probably a good thing, right?  Haha.

29 thoughts on “Thirsty Thursday: The Mint Julep”

  1. Oh yes! Love that Kentucky Derby ensemble. I've also had an affinity for mint julep cups, but sadly, our house isn't decorated elegantly enough for them to fit into my decor. Using them for Christmas w/ mums sounds just gorgeous!

  2. I had a mint julep at our Kentucky Derby cocktail, but it was a little strong for my taste – although it is the classic K Derbs drink! That outfit is adorable as are the pictures! Happy Birthday to A! 🙂

  4. I've been pushing my friend to use that Jcrew dress as a bmaid dress!!!! then we can share like old times! HA!

    Happy birthday Anna!!!!! Hope y'all have fun celebrating. Glad so many of you will be there!

  5. What a FABULOUS Derby outfit – love the color of the dress and that fascinator?? Wow! So sad that ensemble won't get to be on display at Derby this year. 🙁 Your husband's grandmother is a dear for getting him mint julep cups every year (you all are very lucky!) – those will be a beautiful keepsake for many generations in your family. Thanks for cheering on Mission Impazible and wishing us luck – we're very hopeful that he will do great!

    WOW – SIX sisters in 9 some years?!?! Your mother is a saint! It sounds as if you all are VERY close, what a blessing. Happy birthday to your sister! (Oh, and I'm loving that dress you are wearing while you're pregnant, looks great with a tan – I'm guessing that's not a maternity dress?? If it is, you need to share your favorite maternity clothing stores because I never recall seeing anything that gorgeous when I was pregnant!)

  6. I can only dream of going to the Kentucky Derby. Maybe some day I will actually have the opportunity to go. Happy Birthday to your beautiful sister! Love the picture of all of you! I love your dress in your pregnant photo!

    xo

  7. Thanks Ash! (and Ames) Nice pics…so funny that I put one of all of us (definitely an old one!) on my blog today too. Congrats on almost 100 followers!! I knew that would happen! Love you!

  10. Cute Derby ensemble! The Mint Julep recipe couldn't have come at a better time. I've been looking for the perfect one and this sounds just delish. Now, if I could only find the perfect glasses. Do you have any suggestions?

    Happy birthday to your sister. Must be fun to have so many. 🙂

    Happy Thursday!

  11. Such a cute Derby outfit!! 🙂 I've always loved the look of a fascinator, but don't think I could ever pull it off.
    I can't believe you have 5 sisters!!! I would have loved to have sister's near my age… oh the wardrobe you ladies must've had. 🙂
    You're all just beautiful! Happy Birthday to your sister!
    XOXO- Vy

  14. Love the outfit you pulled together!
    And what great bunch of girls! I bet it was so much fun growing up with that many sisters!

  16. Wow, 6 girls! That must have been fun growing up. Have you ever been to the Kentucky Derby? It is on my bucket list for sure. And I love the dress you picked out. 🙂

    xo,
    Marcie

  18. The perfect Kentucky Derby ensemble – you would look gorgeous! If only we could go… sigh. Love those pictures of you and your sisters too – so sweet!

  19. Okay, I think I just became your 100th follower! Seriously, 6 girls? How fantastic and fun is that! Your parents must never have slept.

    Went to the Makers Mark distillery over Easter and they had a bottle of Mint Julep that you pour straight from their bottle over ice. I can't wait til next year when I can drink it!

  21. Totally missed reading your last post until just now — as soon as I saw Capri I was ready to tell you about the Grotta Azzurra, but I see you already have pics posted of it! How amazing is it!? I ABSOLUTELY love it!!

    That said, I LOVE what you'd be wearing to the derby! What a great JCrew dress! I'm more of a big floppy hat girl myself, but that fascinator is adorable. Bravo on your choices!

    Have fun in Italy for me!

    XoXo!

  23. Love the Derby dress! And what great pics of the girls.

    By the way, I had to draw again for my giveaway because the first winner never claimed her prize. The good news is YOU won!! Send me your address so I can mail the prize pack to you.

  24. First of all, you and your sisters are gorgeous!! I have three sisters and it must be that much more fun to have five!!
    Your Kentucky Deeby outfit is perfect!! I love that shade of blue and the earrings are to die for!!

    Great post!!

  28. The julep cups that you collect sound beautiful and I love the idea of decorating them with flowers. Getting them all monogrammed is a great idea. I’ve still never tried a mint julep, but this recipe sounds really great.

    That taffeta dress is the most beautiful color and I love the idea of fascinator, rather than a hat. That would be such a perfect Derby ensemble.

    I cannot believe that you have 5 other sisters! I’m an only child, so that is pretty incredible to me. Happy (early) Birthday to your sister. You ladies are all gorgeous!

    P.S. I tagged you! Please don't feel obligated. I know these things go around all of the time.

  29. so fun to see your family! i can't believe you're one of six girls — that must be a blast! happy birthday to your sister and good luck to your friend's horse! i swear i need to go to the derby in this lifetime and see what all the hype is about! i love the dress you picked out 🙂

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