The Kentucky Derby is run each year on the first Saturday of May. In the Derby’s home city of Louisville, Kentucky two weeks of parties and social events lead up the actual main event. On Derby day an air of festiveness takes over the River City. Everywhere but Louisville? Not so much. Though the race is known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports” most people outside Louisville and horse racing circles couldn’t care less. But we do and you should too. Why? Because the Kentucky Derby is a great opportunity to throw a party and we love any reason to throw a party.

There are really only two mandatory components to any Kentucky Derby party: a television for watching the race and Mint Juleps (and they most certainly cannot be of the premixed variety). Optional, but highly recommended, ingredients for your Kentucky Derby party include Derby Pie, bourbon balls and a variety of bourbon cocktails that aren’t called Mint Juleps.

Our recommended Mint Julep recipe comes from Bill Samuels of Maker’s Mark

4 cups bourbon
2 bunches fresh spearmint
1 cup distilled water
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar

To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.
To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it's right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to "marry" the flavors.

To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

The joys of copyright guarantee that the only way you can eat an official Derby Pie is by purchasing one. Here’s a nifty little secret though: Derby pie is a chocolate walnut pie (though some prefer pecans) and there are tasty recipes for such pies to be found.

You can make your own bourbon balls but I’d really suggest you don’t. Popular bourbon distillers like Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve sell bourbon balls but my personal favorite (and the purported original bourbon balls) come from the Rebecca Ruth candy company. It’s a bit too late to order them for this year’s Derby party but make a great party favor or gift any time of year.