They say the water is just a little different in Kentucky. Urban legend? Or maybe not. Kentucky is home to rich deposits of limestone. Limestone very literally gets inside the water, which then transitions into everything that that water touches.
From the bluegrass that thoroughbred horses eat to the water they drink, Kentucky H2O is richer in calcium, and other key minerals that can–at least in theory–result in better horses. And better bourbon?
Hundreds of years of distilling can’t be wrong. Magical water or not, Kentucky is as famous for its racing as it is for its whiskey. Both are billion-dollar industries. Both have developed alongside each other.
When Was The First Kentucky Derby?
Sometimes called “The most exciting two minutes in all of sports,” the Kentucky Derby began on a Spring day in 1875. One hundred and fifty years later, it is now the longest-running sporting event in the United States.
If you tune in each year with eager excitement, you can thank a man by the name of Meriwether Lewis Clark. You can assume his parents were history buffs. Clark was a well-known man about town in Louisville, the Kentucky city famous for hosting the derby each year.
His contribution to horse racing history began with modern ambitions. He just wanted a Jockey Club where he could fart around with his other wealthy friends.
In 1874, he broke ground on a race course, using land leased to him by the Churchill family—relatives and friends of his.
And so the Kentucky Derby was born. The race took its original inspiration from another well-known racing event, the English Classic.
Obviously, things worked out pretty well. The Derby is quite literally bigger than ever. It attracts millions of eyes to a sport that most people only care about for one day out of the entire year. Celebrities show up in droves. The wealthy wear their very best to attend, and millions of dollars are wagered on the race. And what do the winners lift as they toast their success? Well, those with any respect for the event will raise a glass of Kentucky bourbon.
Going to be staking this race? Horse racing websites like TwinSpires.com have a really in-depth analysis of the odds and other information that is important for enjoying the event. Take a look—and if you get thirsty while you’re doing your research, you know just what to do.
Why Whiskey?
According to the state of Kentucky, they make up about 95% of the world’s bourbon supply. That’s a pretty ironclad hold on a popular market. In the introduction, we referenced why this might be. The mythic Kentucky water genuinely is high-quality, and it actually does contribute to better-tasting whiskey.
There are also potential environmental factors—at least that’s what Hall of Fame distiller (yes, real thing) Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey says. “You need the hot summers and cold winters so that the wood can breathe and the whiskey can move in and out of it.”
By “wood,” Russel is, of course, referring to the barrels in which bourbon is stored. Good water? Check. Good….wood? Jimmy says that’s a yes.
The third, and quite possibly most influential factor: High-quality soil. Kentucky has some of the most fertile ground in the Appalachian region. That’s been important for its overall agrarian economy, but particularly vital in its history of bourbon production. A key ingredient? Corn.
Since the early 1700s, when Kentucky settlers were very literally given free land to grow corn, the state has been a regularly maize-producing machine.
This, with the aforementioned factors, has led to a perfect storm. But two strong industries don’t necessarily need to meet in the middle. How did bourbon and horses cross paths?
A Match Made in Heaven
While people may have been sipping bourbon while watching the Derby since day one, the official partnership did not begin until 1938. It was then that the Mint Julep—long considered the official drink of the South, was also named the signature cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.
It’s a simple drink. Bourbon. Fresh mint leaves. Simple syrup. Mix it together. Serve it over ice. You have, in your hands, a classic racing cocktail.
There are more than 100,000 mint juleps served at the Kentucky Derby every year. Quite a lot for a race that only takes two minutes to complete.
The Kentucky Derby is Coming: What will you be drinking?
There’s a little bit of time yet before people flock by the thousands to the otherwise quite modest town of Louisville Kentucky. Plenty of opportunities to start dreaming up a cocktail to sip as you watch the race.
Mint juleps might have history on their side, but there are loads of other ways to put bourbon in your glass. True Kentuckians will tell you that there’s no need for syrup at all.
