The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, so today we’re talking about its official drink, the mint julep! Mint juleps are made with just a handful of ingredients: bourbon, sugar, water, crushed/shaved ice, and fresh mint. Originally, juleps were medicinal! In England, the drink was used strictly as medicine for centuries, and was prescribed for things like stomach problems and sore throats. When the drink made its way to the U.S., early settlers used rum and brandy in their juleps. But by the 1800s, bourbon had become the preferred spirit for the cocktail. It was served at Churchill Downs since the racetrack was built in 1875, but didn’t become the official drink of the Kentucky Derby until the 1930s. Today, more than 125,000 mint juleps are sold each year at the Derby. Learn more in the audio below!