Kentucky
It’s National Mint Julep Day! How many are served during Kentucky Derby weekend?
Is the mint julep overhyped? See what was said at Kentucky Derby 2026.
Courier Journal’s Keely Doll and Olivia Evans asked racegoers at the 152nd Kentucky Derby if the mint julep, a derby-staple, live up to its hype.
- National Mint Julep Day celebrates a cocktail closely associated with Kentucky.
- Approximately 127,000 mint juleps are served during the Kentucky Derby weekend.
- The drink has been a tradition at Churchill Downs for almost a century.
It’s National Mint Julep Day, a celebration of one of Kentucky’s most recognizable cocktails.
The popular bourbon drink has long been tied to Louisville and the Kentucky Derby. According to Churchill Downs, about 127,000 mint juleps are served over the two-day Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend.
How to make a mint julep
Let’s Talk Derby: How to make a mint julep for the Kentucky Derby
It’s time for another ‘Let’s Talk Derby with Kathryn and Kirby’ video. Learn how to make the official drink of the Kentucky Derby: the mint julep.
How many mint juleps are served during Kentucky Derby weekend each year?
According to Churchill Downs, about 127,000 mint juleps are served over the two days of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend. This number of cocktails requires more than 10,000 bottles of bourbon, 2,250 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 475,000 pounds of ice.
The mint julep has been a traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century.
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.