One Drink, Five Ways: The Mint Julep

Five bars, five different takes on the minty, bourbony Kentucky Derby staple

Welcome to the monthly feature in which we investigate and rate the way one cocktail varies from bar to bar (to bar to bar to bar). Up this month: The Mint Julep.

Can you hear the horses' clomping louder and louder? The Kentucky Derby is quickly rounding the bend (it's on May 2), bringing with it our favorite springtime sipper: the mint julep. Classically, this Southern-belle cocktail consists of just bourbon, crushed mint and a dollop of simple syrup, over ice. The concoction is traditionally served in a frosted silver or pewter cup, daintily sipped while holding the top and the bottom, lest your hand warm the cup. But from this elemental beginning, bartenders have tweaked and twisted the formula, adding lime juice and even ditching bourbon for—gasp!—peach liqueur and cognac. Here's one drink, served five distinctly minty ways. —Joshua M. Bernstein

Pictured: The Mint Julep at Walter Foods