Kentucky Derby 2010: Mint Julep Recipes, Derby Hats and More
Fans need the perfect mint julep, dibs on a winning horse and a fabulous hat.
April 30, 2010— -- The annual Kentucky Derby extravaganza starts tonight, and fans attending the races at Churchill Downs or partying from home are sporting a few very important things: the perfect mint julep, dibs on a winning horse and a fabulous Kentucky Derby hat.
Recession woes and a falling profile have taken the usually glittery Derby off the A-List this year, and the parties may not be as legendary as they were in the days of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, whose famed article "The Kentucky Derby Is Decedent and Depraved" immortalized a boozy, anything-goes culture.
The recession has dampened spirits in Lexington, Louisville and elsewhere, forcing organizers to heed strict budgets, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The Grand Gala, a Louisville party that has featured stars such as Michael Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Mo'Nique since it was first held in 2002, was canceled this year, the Herald-Leader wrote.
"Every move we made was with a real budget in mind," Charla Young, Louisville event planner for the Gala, told the Kentucky newspaper.
But the Derby can still be enjoyed in style, either on the track or from home for those who couldn't actually make it to Kentucky this year.
First step: Get yourself a mint julep, the quintessential Kentucky classic that no Derby party can exist without, according to Vanity Fair's "Outsider's Derby Guide."
Kentucky bourbon company Maker's Mark has posted the "perfect" mint julep recipe.
Epicurious also has an ode to the julep, but acknowledges that the purists will tell you to skip the mint and go straight for the bourbon:
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