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I love mint juleps, both for their unique taste and the short amount of time that they’re actually relevant each year. Demand for the minted drink skyrockets during the first two weeks of May, mostly because it’s synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, and wanes afterwards as people revert to their comfort zones of vodka sodas and whiskey mixes. I was at the Derby last year. It’s a magical time. I wasn’t rich enough to shell out for club tickets where people like Gronk sit, so my buddies and I headed to the “Infield,” a muddy mess of enclosed race track space that hosts the true party. It had rained the night before, so the sloppy scenes we found in this common man concourse will forever be etched in my mind as folks in nice suits raced down mud-soaked hills carefree and girls in high heels slipped on their way to the centrally-located port-a-potties. The Infield is many great things, but it is not a place of civility, which makes the beautifully designed mint juleps the Derby serves feel out of place.
Now, I soft-sounded this with the folks I went with last year, and got several heated responses objecting to this take. And I get the rationale. The artfully crafted mint julep they serve at Churchill Downs comes in a commemorative Kentucky Derby glass and looks great on Instagram – but there’s a few practical reasons why lugging one around in the Infield just doesn’t make sense.
Much like Wrigley Field’s bleacher seats or a PCB beach front, the primary reason people go to the Infield is for the party and people watching; enjoying the nearby entertainment comes second until the big race. Drinking out of shatter-proof Ron Diaz handles and plastic stadium cups are the standard at the first two party examples as glass isn’t allowed for a myriad of reasons. The same philosophy should apply to the mint juleps in the Infield. If they sold them in big plastic mugs, I’m all in. But serving them in these extravagantly branded glass cups is not a smart move as you know drunk people are going break them in a hundred different ways. Even worse, the glasses look really cool with the Kentucky Derby logo on the front, so you’ll inevitably convince your semi-sober self that you can responsibly carry this thing around for 5 plus hours. This is of course never happens as you quickly drop off your glass in exchange for a $10 pan pizza, leading to disappointment at the end of the day when you leave the track with bare hands and a barren wallet.
The other reason is that the mint julep they serve at the Derby is a horribly inefficient way to maintain a buzz throughout the day. Every year, Churchill Downs runs through roughly 60,000 pounds of ice making these things and that is very apparent when you get your first serving. It roughly takes four gulps to consume. Consuming the first one when you get into the actual Churchill Downs space is bliss as you navigate through the sea of Vineyard Vines seersucker blazers and poofy hats. But waiting in line for one in the Infield is hell when you know a standard Miller Lite could do the job and take less time to get to your mouth. Oh, and they usually run $14 – cash only. Personally, I’d rather spend my cash betting on the long-shot horses and drinking draft beer all day. Especially knowing you have a long time of idle activity before the big races begin.
Don’t get me wrong, mint juleps are still a vital part of the Derby experience, but their presence in the Infield portion of the grounds just seems forced. You’re better suited having one or two before you head into the pastel-filled thunderdome and spending your resources elsewhere once you get inside. Regardless, you should make the trip to the Kentucky Derby at least once. It’s a blast..
Image via Shutterstock
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@TaylorLaabs
@taylor1laabs
I’m a Kentuckian and I agree with this opinion.
If you want to take home one of the commemorative glasses then just grab one off the ground on your walk out. There will be hundreds of them left behind.
Obviously you need to run it through the dishwasher before you use it. I’m not advocating the Duda popcorn method.
Duda has a lot of hot takes but that popcorn move will never be lived down
The toothbrush sharing still makes me cringe
Mint Juleps are not that good. That being said, i would 100% drink them until i ran out of money if i ever went to the Kentucky Durby
I wish I had an opinion on this matter. I’ve never been. As a small bladder boy, I’m likely to choose a mixed drink option, but I’m unfamiliar with the social norms at the Derby.
TB from the infield would be electric though.
Can’t even imagine how drunk Dill Dog would be. Just screaming into the microphone like a madman.
Just order a ‘Kentucky Dave’ and you’re set.
Juleps are cool, but the infield is all about the turkey legs. I worked on one of those bad boys for about an hour and it was fucking glorious. I felt like a drunk caveman in a seersucker suit.
Anyone else going to the Derby this year?
For all of you coming from out of town:
Bars to avoid (anything on 4th st or around the track)
Bar areas to go to:
Nulu (postgrad crowd)
Bardstown rd/high lands (mix of everything)
St Matthews (dance clubs)
Tip dealing with getting out of derby:
There is a race after the main race, if you wait and watch it, the main rush of people have already left and make your wait time for Uber shorter.
Good take on the bar scene here. Been in Louisville since July, so wasn’t a resident for last year’s Derby. Looking forward to this infield experience that I continuously hear so much about.
Bardstown / Highlands is my go to but, I also grew up around there. St. Matthews will have a ton of young locals – highschool / college kids.
I’ll be there! Infield as well.
See ya’ll in the infield
I will be there! Infield obviously. This is my first time so I’m kinda curious what the move is. Do I go all in and rock a suit or is that a club seat move and I’ll end up looking like a try hard? Also the forecast has some rain, should I go with bean boots like the trash I am or just wear loafers?
Wear suit if it’s your first time. Bean boots are fine in the infield if it’s going to rain. Or wear cheap loafers you’re willing to throw away.
I specifically ordered shoes on Amazon that I’m planning on throwing away.
That’s the move! On rainy years, I go to Goodwill and get a cheap, gaudy looking suit
Also, what’s the move for the Oaks on Friday? I heard it’s more relaxed and just wear something pink.
A lot of locals go to Oaks instead because it’s slighty less crowded, but it’s just as fun as Derby. I wouldn’t say it’s more relaxed though.
You dress the same as Derby, but you’re supposed to wear something pink for breast cancer awareness.
Oaks is for the Louisville natives. The city closes down the schools so kids can go – drunk highschool (and middle schoolers) in the infield. It is more chill and good idea to go if you’ve never been to get a lay of the land.
I’ll be present throwing all my money at longshots
I’ll be there, turf club only.
As an experienced Derby-goer, can’t imagine not drinking them in the infield. Wouldn’t be the same. Nothing feels better than grabbing it and spiking the mint sprig on the ground.
I actually chew the mint because savage moves only.
Okay but what’s your opinion on New York City
Takes from a Kentuckian:
1. Have one if it’s your first time, but don’t going all in on them for the day isn’t the move. Mint and Bourbon is much better going down.
2. Bourbon and a cigar are a much better match for your suit. Frat up.
3. Keeneland and the Oaks are a much more enjoyable experience.
Fellow Kentuckian – Born in the ‘Ville. Can confirm. Suit should have a plastic bottle of Old Forrester and a few stogies.
Get it once and to say you did. The drink itself sucks, just drink bourbon straight up. It 100% doesn’t belong in the infield, the infield is trash and that’s where trash people go (or college kids). If you’re postgrad get a group of 8 buddies together and get a “box” aka a 4×4 box with metal chairs inside. It runs like $150 a person and you actually see the races, are close to concessions and food, don’t run the risk of getting dragged into a brawl/ don’t ruin your clothes. Or just tailgate in the parking lot the whole time, a large portion of people do this and it’s honestly better than the infield.
1) Don’t do the infield if you are over 23
2) Skip Derby henceforth and go to Keeneland in April.