How to do Mint Juleps on the Mississippi

Mint Juleps and Spending Time Cruising the Mississippi

_{^{By Janet Serra}}

I love the romance of traveling especially on a slow paddlewheel boat up the Mississippi River. There is something so indolent and relaxing about watching the vessel plow its way along the Mississippi. There is so much to look at on its’ banks that I never get bored, not even for a second. I guess this is what I like most about small river cruises, they always offer an intimate view of the landscape that gives such a different and intriguing perspective from the water. The real added bonus is that the ship caters to a very limited number of passengers making the experience stress-free and authentic.

The Queen of the Mississippi, my home away from home for seven days has been recreated with the look of an elegantly appointed traditional riverboat that once plied the Mississippi in the early 19th century.  The only difference is that it is loaded with modern amenities that enhance and not take away from the nostalgic feel of this grand vessel. There are seven unique lounges including the Chart Room and the cozy Mark Twain Library where cocktails are served. The spacious dining room is elegant with graceful chandeliers and large windows that offer gorgeous water views. I was happy to see that they have an open seating plan. I found that the food was excellent because there was something for every palate on their menu. I stuck with the regional favorites.

I decided to splurge and booked a stateroom. I am so happy that I did. The staterooms are spacious with door to ceiling glass doors that lead out to a balcony. The balcony has become one of my favorite spots to watch the landscape drift-by. 

One of the first stops on the cruise and just one of the many highlights for me is a visit to Oak Alley, the Grande Dame of the Lower Mississippi River. I was so impressed that I wrote a blog that tells the multifaceted story of what life must have been like there in the 1800s.  To me, Oak Alley epitomizes a mansion of the deep south - it is everything I ever pictured it would be and more. The history and presentation, the story of slavery, white gold (sugar), and the lives of the people that lived here are beautifully told. I felt like I was stepping out of the pages of a fascinating history book and into plantation life in the 1800s. 

One of my favorite things to do at Oak Alley after visiting the big house and exploring the grounds was to sip a Mint Julep overlooking the property. I had never had one before and wondered about the history of this drink. I liked it so much that I decided this would be my cocktail of choice on my balcony.

^{Mint Juleps} 

Like many things in the south, this drink has an interesting past. 

It is widely believed that the root name of “julep” is the Arabic and Persian word “Gulab” which means rose water. Regardless of the origin of the name, today, mint juleps are synonymous with the American South. 

American history reveals that the mint julep got its start as a medicinal drink to help cure stomach aches and was often drunk to give farmers energy in the American South in the 1700s.  A legend claims that this drink was created when a man who had difficulty swallowing added water from the Mississippi River to his bourbon along with a few sprigs of mint that were growing nearby. Most historians believe that this is just a folk tale and that the mint julep was developed by high society in Virginia in the late 1700s.  The well-heeled would drink mint juleps out of silver or pewter cups over breakfast. Traditionally, these goblets were only held at the bottom and top edges, allowing frost to form on the outside of the cup. 

As early as 1816 mint juleps became popular in the state of Kentucky, the American birthplace of the main ingredient, bourbon. Mint Juleps came into their own in 1938 as the drink associated with the Kentucky Derby. They became the official drink of the race and today more than 120,000 juleps are served over the two day period at Churchill Downs where the Kentucky Derby is held. If you really want to splurge you can purchase a mint julep in a gold plated cup with silver straws that are made from Woodford Reserve bourbon, mint imported from Ireland, ice cubes from the Bavarian Alps and sugar from Australia for $1,000.

The Mint Julep we know today is usually a mixture of bourbon, simple syrup made from sugar and water, and mint. Regional differences arise over questions regarding the mint. Some think it should be muddled and others think it should be delicately mixed into the drink. Either way, this drink is one to savor when cruising the Mississippi.