05/05/07 - Mint Juleps or Margaritas?

[Drolefille]

Since the Queen will be attending the Derby, what will she be drinking?

[jadis96]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Since the Queen will be attending the Derby, what will she be drinking?

Well... from what I saw on TV she is getting this...

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In an effort to create
a memorable gift for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the 2007 Kentucky Derby
on Saturday, May 5, Diageo, the world's largest spirits company, blended
the most expensive and rare Crown Royal Whisky ever created.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070503/AQTH074 )
After all Crown Royal Canadian Blended Whisky was originally made for
the Queen's parents in 1939 to commemorate their Grand Tour of Canada. As a
tribute, Joseph E. Seagram's & Sons Inc. ordered the preparation of a
commemorative blend for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Placed aboard
their private, cross-country train, Crown Royal was a special gift for the
royal couple that was respected for their knowledge and appreciation of
fine whiskies.
A fire at the Seagram's Waterloo Distillery in Ontario destroyed the
facility, where a limited number of whisky barrels could be salvaged. Crown
Royal blender Andrew MacKay, selected the rarest remaining barrels with
some of the highest rye content and personally supervised production of
what is now known as Crown Royal XR Extra Rare Heritage Blend. A truly
priceless creation, if the whisky were to have a price tag, a suggested
retail price would likely begin at $10,000. The blend has been made
exclusively for Her Majesty.
Diageo commissioned Casey Hyland, a master glass designer at
Louisville's Glassworks, to create a custom glass decanter, etched with 24
K gold leaf, as unique as the whiskey that will fill it.
"We see this blend's special creation as a way to celebrate Crown
Royal's distinct origin to North America," said David Tapscott, Brand
Director for Crown Royal. "We have accomplished something unique and
special with creating the most expensive Crown Royal whisky we have ever
made, then using local craftsmen to express the very special message we
wish to bestow upon Her Majesty to commemorate Her visit to Churchill
Downs."
Diageo and Crown Royal have a long history in supporting equine events.
On Friday, May 4, they will sponsor the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes
just before the famed Kentucky Oaks at Louisville's legendary racetrack,
Churchill Downs. The race is one and one-sixteenth miles, with a purse of
$150,000. Both Thursday and Friday at Churchill, Crown Royal sponsors the
"Festival in the Field" providing music by local and national acts. Kansas
headlines Thursday's event.
The company has also created the Crown Royal Turf specifically for the
Kentucky Derby, which uses 3 ounces of orange juice, 1 and 1/2 ounces of
Crown Royal, garnished with a sprig of fresh parsley.
About Crown Royal:
Crown Royal, the number one selling whisky in the U.S. by value, has a
tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to
commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal's smooth, elegant style
reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian
whisky. In addition to its motorsports sponsorships, the brand also
sponsors The Crown Royal Bad Boys of Comedy Tour, the Crown Royal American Turf stakes race at Churchill Downs and a number of other major regional and national events. For more information on Crown Royal, visit
http://www.crownroyal.com.

[Trey_P-I_47]

I think I plan on sticking to the good ole Patron for Cinco De Mayo

[PiKA2001]

Who in their right mind would rather celebrate some Mexican holiday that the mexicans don't even care about over an American tradition like the Derby? I guess i've just grown up in the wrong part of the country, I mean you hear about Cinco De Mayo in passing, but it's kind of like Presidents Day..No one does anything special.

[PeppyGPhiB]

People here don't celebrate the Derby at all, probably because it's so far away. They watch it on TV maybe if they're around a TV, but that's it.

Here in Seattle May 5 is the opening day of the boating season, so a whole lotta Seattleites will be out on the water, tailgating, eating salmon and dungeness crab, and watching the regatta. I bet most don't even know the Derby is going on. The boats started lining up along the boom a couple days ago.

Cinco de Mayo is one of those "holidays of convenience" for a lot of people, just like St. Patty's Day. People in Ireland never used to do anything on St. Patty's Day, either, in fact it was a very religious holiday. Then the American tourists started bringing the party there and now people in Ireland actually party on that holiday.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Cinco de Mayo is one of those "holidays of convenience" for a lot of people, just like St. Patty's Day. People in Ireland never used to do anything on St. Patty's Day, either, in fact it was a very religious holiday. Then the American tourists started bringing the party there and now people in Ireland actually party on that holiday.

I do kinda agree with this. Cinco de Mayo was actually the day of a battle--the battle of Puebla...but in retrospect it was very insignificant, and not widely celebrated. You might see some areas in Mexico that will celebrate it, but overall it is not a widely celebrated holiday. Ever since I was little I was taught to believe that us Americans celebrate to get drunk. Many people actually believe that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day which is very to me! (P.S. Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16)

[honeychile]

Reading this recipe in the Post-Gazette made me realize that the Pittsburgh foodie isn't from and has never lived in the South:

"Originally, juleps were served in sterling silver cups or mugs. The reason is that silver is an excellent heat conductor, which allows a beautiful white coating of frost to form on the outside of the mug.

"While silver is still preferred on the verandas of the wealthy, inexpensive glasses that can go into the dishwasher are favored by the rest of us."

[the recipe part of the article]:

"Into the bottom of a 14-ounce glass, place a big sprig of fresh mint leaves and a heaping teaspoon of sugar. Splash in soda water to fill one-third of the glass.

With the back of a spoon or a pestle, muddle and crush the mint. Add crushed ice to the top of the glass. It looks like way too much. It's not.

Pour a shot of bourbon over the ice.

Our bartender poured Maker's Mark from a spout top. (I can never figure out how they know how much is enough. It looked like lots more than a shot.) Give the drink a good stir. Now add crushed ice to round up over the rim of the glass like a snow cone. Swirl another shot of Maker's Mark bourbon over the top. The crushed ice will settle some.

Tuck a large, fresh sprig of mint into the glass, and sprinkle a little sugar over the mint, about one-half teaspoon. Top with a lemon twist, add a straw and serve."

**
One of the things I was definitely taught about making juleps was to frost the cups and to refrigerate the tray, as you don't want to ruin the frost on the tumblers. I see nothing about that in the article - but I was also told to make a mint syrup without bruising the mint for a better julep. I've had them with crushed mint leaves, and really can't tell much of a difference (especially after a few...).

[Trey_P-I_47]

Yes Cinco de Mayo is pretty much a convenience holiday more than anything else.........it is just another day for us college kids to get drunk for no reason and throw big parties.....although a holiday really isnt even needed for that to begin with.