Few are as memorable — or as tasty — as the drink of choice at Churchill Downs: the mint julep. It is the standard drink for attendants of the iconic horse racing event in Louisville.

to its pageantry and elaborate hats. But for us, it comes down to one thing: the mint julep. And since the Derby is the perfect reason to host a bunch of friends for an afternoon of drinking and ...

Erik Ofgang is a Connecticut journalist who writes about drinks. In the 1990s, the mint juleps served during the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs were coming in or near last in terms of flavor.