Mint Bitters & Mint Julep & Kentucky Derby History

In 1864, James Fee opened a grocery and liquor store in Rochester, NY to help support his large, close-knit family. His brothers helped him grow the store into a successful winery and wine import business, and by 1950 their flavored cocktail bitters line really became a focus. Today they're best known for their huge selection of flavored cocktail bitters. Fee Brothers Mint bitters are an unusual and difficult to find bitter that adds a bright, straightforward peppermint flavor to your favorite cocktails. They're perfect in punches or cocktails when you don't have fresh mint leaves handy, or can even be used to add a minty boost to muddled mint cocktails like the Mojito, Julep, or Smash. Mint Juleps are an old school classic that definitely benefit from an extra minty boost from a few dashes of Fee's mint bitters.

America has been spellbound by the Kentucky Derby since Churchill Downs first opened in 1875. This extraordinary horse race is not only an iconic part of Americana, it's also one hell of an excuse to throw a party — dress up in your Sunday best, don pastels and seersucker, and bust out the biggest, fanciest hats you can find. And of course, you can't forget the mint juleps. The mint julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938, but it was popular in Kentucky long before that. Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay is credited with making the mint julep popular nation-wide in the early 1800s, sharing his beloved mint juleps with his fellow statesmen. Mint juleps have been synonymous with Kentucky ever since.

An iconic cocktail deserves an iconic vessel, and the mint julep certainly doesn't disappoint. Sterling silver cups have been a symbol of esteem and prestige in Kentucky for over 200 years — Kentuckians have been using them to celebrate special occasions and give as prizes since the early 1800s. In 1908 the Chicago Tribune ran an article quoting Lexington, Kentucky's Samuel Judson: "Take a silver cup — always a silver cup. Fill it with ice pulverized to the fineness of snow. Bruise one tender little leaf of mint and stick it in the ice. Then dissolve a spoonful of sugar in about three-quarters of a Kentucky drink of good whisky and let the fluid filter through the ice to the bottom of the cup. Shake the cup slowly until a coating of a thick white frost forms on the outside. Trim with mint and hand to an appreciative gentleman."

Mint Julep Recipe

8 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish

1/4 to 1/2 oz simple syrup, to taste

2 dashes Mint bitters

2 1/2 oz Kentucky bourbon

Finely crushed ice

Muddle mint leaves, simple syrup, and mint bitters together in a mixing glass. Add the bourbon and plenty of ice. Stir to chill and strain into a julep cup filled with finely crushed ice. (link "julep cup" to a matching product) Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and enjoy!