A SIP OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

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The American Queen has her own unique personality and she sails in a region which, perhaps more than any other part of the United States, has unique traditions that define it as a special place. When one thinks of the South and traveling on the Mississippi River, one’s head fills with images of antebellum mansions, magnolia blossoms, women in hoop skirts, Civil War battlefields, Mark Twain, warm Southern hospitality and the comfort of Southern home-cooked cuisine.

The South also conjures up thoughts of wide, shaded porches with rocking chairs and porch swings as well as ladies and gentlemen fanning themselves on a hot summer day with a glass of lemonade, sweet tea or that quintessential Southern drink, the mint julep, firmly in hand. More than any other concoction of spirits, including the famous hurricane liberally served on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, the mint julep seems to embody the very spirit of the South.

Ask any Southerner exactly who is credited with inventing the mint julep and exactly when this occurred and you’re likely to get a quizzical stare and an answer that implies it was never really invented, it just came into existence by divine intervention shortly after before God rested on the seventh day – with a mint julep in hand, of course.

By the time Lewis and Clark were trailblazing across the country toward the Pacific Ocean, the mint julep seems to have been in existence since it was first mentioned in an 1803 book published in London by John Davis. Admittedly, his description was a bit vague and he didn’t define the specific ingredients other than mint but he did point out it was favored by residents of Virginia.

Though the mint julep likely originated in the 1700s, it came into widespread favor in the 1800s. The word “julep” alludes to the drink’s sweetness since the term was often used to describe a drink with medicinal purposes that was mixed with sugar water to hide the flavor. Going back a bit farther in history, the word has Persian origins that loosely translate into “rose water.” Regardless of the etymological genesis of “julep,” the drink that was part of Southern porch culture took a bit more of a refined turn when it became a staple at the legendary Willard Hotel’s Round Robin Bar. The mint julep had arrived in Washington D.C.

It’s certainly fitting that the introduction of the mint julep to Washington society is often credited to Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky sine the drink has been closely associated with the Kentucky Derby. The drink of choice among the fancy hat-wearing crowds at Churchill Downs is consumed with great ceremony and enthusiasm. Well over 100,000 mint juleps are served during race weekend although, interestingly, the alcoholic content is usually whiskey and not the more popular bourbon.

Lest one think that the mint julep is simply a quiet, polite and traditional cocktail without the means to impress, consider the $1,000 mint juleps served at the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Though the mint julep is undeniably a Southern staple, if you make one from Woodford Reserve bourbon, sugar shipped in from Australia, mint from Ireland and ice cubes from the Alps and then serve it in gold-plated keepsake glasses with silver straws, apparently the sky’s the limit when it come to the price tag. Two years later, Churchill Downs decided to top its $1,000 mint julep stunt and instead of using gold-plated cups switched to the world’s largest mint julep glass. The record-breaker was 6 feet high but the word “glass” is a bit of a misnomer since it was created using acrylic. Fashioned to resemble the official 2008 mint julep logo glass of the Kentucky Derby, the monster could hold more than 200 gallons of intoxicating Southern hospitality.

For all its acclaim, the mint julep is surprisingly easy to make and only requires water, sugar, mint leaf and bourbon. At the derby and throughout Kentucky and much of the South, spearmint is the preferred choice. The key is to crush the mint leaves since doing so releases the oils within the mint to give it a stronger flavor. Though today mint juleps are almost always served in a tall glass with a straw, they once were only presented in pewter or silver cups and properly consumed by holding only the bottle or rim of the cup.

If you’ve never had a mint julep, we can assure you they are a real treat. We often find many of our guests try the legendary beverage for the first time on an American Queen voyage. We also tend to find that orders for mint juleps begin in earnest about halfway through a cruise once our guests have had time to settle into the atmosphere of the American Queen, experienced a few of the enchanting destinations and heard of the cultural importance of the mint julep in Southern life. While a mint julep is enjoyed anywhere on board, it is a natural match for the Front Porch of America, a wide covered deck at the front of the vessel with sweeping views of the river and the scenery sliding by on either side. It is here that guests find rocking chairs and porch swings; the urge to watch the world unroll before them with a mint julep in hand is often an irresistible temptation.

If you’d like to experience a small taste (or should we say sip) of life on the American Queen, then make your own mint julep at home.

INGREDIENTS
3 oz of bourbon
4 to 6 sprigs of mint leaves
2 tsp water
Granulated sugar, to taste

PREPARATION
Place the mint, sugar, and water in the bottom of a glass and then crush and mix (muddle) and let the mixture stand for a few minutes. This allows the oils in the mint leaves to release their flavor. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a tall glass (ideally into a mint julep cup if one is available) and rotate the glass or cup as you pour to coat the sides with the muddled mixture. Fill the entire glass with ice and then add the bourbon. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

While creating your own mint julep is one way to get an idea of the traditions of the South, the best way is to join us on an American Queen river cruise. And right now we have an offer as appealing as a mint julep itself. Receive a a two-category upgrade* on any 2014 departure of the American Queen on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers or of the American Empress in the Pacific Northwest. Simply make your reservations and pay-in-full before March 31, 2014.

* Offer expires March 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Estimated savings of up to $3200 ($1600 per person) is based on double occupancy for a standard American Queen 9 day voyage. Offer is not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations and cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts. The free 2 cabin category upgrade means that guests will be placed in cabin(s) that are 2 sequential categories above initial cabin(s) requested at time of reservation. This offer is not valid on cabin upgrades into American Queen categories LS, AAA, SO and SI; and American Empress categories LS, A and CS. This offer is based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.