Jake and I are gearing up to leave for the Kentucky Derby.
Marmie — Jake’s mom — arrives tonight to watch over June and Solha. The car is getting a good going over for the seven hour drive to Louisville. A dress and a hat have been selected (don’t get excited….I ran out of time so the results will surely disappoint). My “To-Go Jar” of bourbon for juleps has been steeping in the sunshine with mint for three weeks now.
A recipe has been selected, which I plan to adapt to make allowances for my mint-infused bourbon.
Then it occurred to me…..you can’t drink a bonafide mint julep out of an improper glass. I’m one of those people who think beverages taste very differently depending on the vessel. Jake, I’m afraid, is the opposite. I’ve watched in horror as my husband knocked back chamgagne from a plastic cup, swigged red wine straight from the bottle, prepared a cocktail in a pint glass, sipped sake from a coffee mug! I recoil just thinking about it!
So I went out and splurged on four of these:
Four pewter julep cups. Mint juleps are traditionally supposed to be an icy drink–sweetened liquor stirred in a mound of crushed ice; pewter or silver nicely frosts the outside of the cup, enhancing the chill. The cups cost $28 a piece, monogrammed. I go pick them up at the jewelry shop this afternoon. Yes, jewelry shop. Turns out pewter julep cups aren’t readily available at regular kitchen supply and gift stores, but where diamond earrings are sold.
Ordinarily, I would never spend $100 on four cups but this is a special occasion. Jake is back from Afghanistan. He loves bourbon. He loves Kentucky. He loves horses. He loves drinking bourbon in Kentucky watching horses. I’m getting each cup monogrammed with a big J. And maybe, just maybe, it will mean he won’t drink his julep out of a plastic cup.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great purchase–you’ll never forget the circumstances!
A well-deserved splurge! You will love those cups forever! Enjoy the vacation!
I love your new glasses! Totally worth the splurge for a totally worthy occasion!
Jessie – make sure of one think – you folks have fun! Them’s orders!
And please travel safely – we all want you and Jake back home safe and sound.
I’m sure you’ll treasure those cups forever. Have a great time!!
When we got married I really wanted to get julep cups for our bouquets but never did. You’re making me regret it! Enjoy those drinks. I’m a fan of any special drink wear that you can’t break, no matter how drunk you get.
yep, that is the solde reason I would drink Bourbon and Mint. I’ve always been a sucker for a souvenir cup! (This one is a little nicer than others!)
Have a great trip!! You n Jake deserve a few days to yourselves!
Hey Jessie–guess where we went last year for vacation?? Yup!–Kentucky. Scary isn’t it. Brooklyn girl marries small town man–goes to Kentucky for kicks.
Have a great time!!! Enjoy your glasses and what’s in them! Let’s get together when you get back!!!!
” “Garden intimacy?” I said. “Is that a douche?” ”
[hysterical laughter from behind the pages of a book]
Love the juleps! ps. I saw this new canning cookbook – the cover looks just like yours….I guess imitation is flattery and all that. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607741008/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=modernmealmak-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1607741008