It’s finally May, the month of the Kentucky Derby and everyone’s favorite racetrack drink, the mint julep. Simple, classic, and refreshing all accurately describe it. There's muddled mint leaves, crushed ice, sugar, water, and bourbon. Served in a silver julep cup with a few sprigs of mint, the cocktail is the official drink of the Run for the Roses. It's also largely representative of Southern taste– sweet with a spicy kick.
Washingtonians are lucky enough to live in a city with some mint julep history, as Kentucky Senator Henry Clay famously introduced it to the Round Robin bar at the Willard Hotel. While many D.C. eateries will offer this drink as a Kentucky Derby special, the Round Robin and a host of other bars and restaurants almost always have it on the menu.
Sipping a julep is perfect for sunny afternoons on the patio this spring, even if it’s not done in a flamboyant hat. Try these mint juleps around D.C. not just on Derby Day, but nearly any day.
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