Every year, between 80,000 and 120,000 Mint Julep cocktails are served to spectators and participants at the Kentucky Derby race track at Churchill Downs. In fact, ever since 1938, Mint Julep has been considered the traditional drink to enjoy at the Derby. Usually made with just 4 ingredients, this minty Southern cocktail is laced with bourbon and served over crushed ice - the perfect cocktail for a hot May day.

Celebrated annually the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby attracts visitors from around the world and is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar.

In 2006, reports indicate that Mint Juleps costing $1,000 each were served at the Kentucky Derby for charitable causes. Served in gold-plated cups with silver straws, they used ingredients from around the world: ice from the Bavarian Alps, mint from Ireland, Woodford Reserve bourbon and sugar from Australia.

A couple of years later, the world's largest Mint Julep glass was presented at the Derby. The 6-foot (1.8m) tall glass had a capacity of 206 US gallons (780 litres) and was used to distribute smaller Mint Juleps to spectators using a concealed pumping system.

The official Kentucky Derby website even has a page devoted to Mint Julep, which has been sponsored by Early Times, a brand of Kentucky whiskey:

"The Early Times Mint Julep Cocktail is a ready-to-serve beverage that has been the "The Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby" for over 16 years.

Over 80,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, requiring 8,000 liters of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 2,200 pounds of freshly harvested mint, and 80 tons of shaved ice."

2010 will no doubt see thousands more Mint Juleps consumed at the Derby. If you didn't get a chance to go this year, why not make your own Mint Julep from home?

Try our Mint Julep cocktail recipe.