I’ve Tasted Hundreds of Whiskeys. These Are the Best Bourbons for Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps

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The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most famous horse race in the United States and is held at the historic Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday of May each year. It's also the biggest unofficial bourbon holiday of the year, if you ask me. 

At the track, the signature cocktail is the mint julep. It’s a refreshing mix of whiskey, sugar, ice and, of course, fresh mint. It’s simple to whip up and is the ideal warm-weather sipper.

For many folks, the big question of the day is which horse will win the race, but I'll be considering what bourbon to drink. As a spirits expert, I've spent years trialing whiskeys neat, as well as in cocktails such as the julep.

Here are some of my favorite whiskeys to have on hand for watching the Kentucky Derby. Great news: You can enjoy these long after the Derby ends.

1. Woodford Reserve Bourbon

One of the coolest limited-edition whiskey series is Woodford Reserve’s special bottling for the Derby. Every year the brand partners with a different artist to create a label for its flagship bourbon. This year, for the 152nd Kentucky Derby, Woodford selected Chicago-based Anna Murphy to design the special label. She created a timeless painting of a jockey on horseback, which beautifully captures the scene at the track.

Woodford Reserve is one of the best-selling bourbons and for good reason: it's incredibly drinkable. On the palate, it has notes of oak, chocolate, baking spices, and orange, which work beautifully in a julep and produces an almost confectionary like flavor.

2. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon

It’s no secret Michter’s is making some of the best American whiskey today. The brand’s 10-year-old bourbon was in fact our favorite bourbon of the year. While one could certainly make a decadent and luxurious mint julep with that pricey whiskey, a more affordable alternative is the brand’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon. While there's no set definition for the term “small batch,” at Michter’s it really is small batch. The brand combines the contents of no more than 20 barrels at a time to make this expression. It's one of the best whiskey bargains on store shelves. 

My favorite thing about Michter's whiskeys is their incredible richness and depth of flavor. These are whiskeys you can sip for hours while contemplating life. They're also great in cocktails. The US*1 Small Batch Bourbon is a good choice for a mint julep, since its robust oak and vanilla flavors don't get lost behind the mint.

3. Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

On Saturday May 4, 1935, Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle and his partners opened their now legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville. It was no coincidence that same day three miles away the Kentucky Derby was taking place at Churchill Downs.

A couple years later, Life magazine ran a story about the Derby, which included images from a party thrown by Van Winkle. The article mentioned he served mint juleps made with 17-year-old Old Fitzgerald Bourbon. The whiskey was, no doubt, produced before Prohibition was enacted and pulled from his personal stash. While making juleps with a 17-year-old bourbon is now a very expensive proposition, it seems only fitting to use Pappy's signature whiskey, Old Fitzgerald, to make the drink. The brand’s 7-year-old is perfect for a mint julep—and right now the Men’s Journal Spirits Shop is offering an insane price drop: $55 instead of $200. 

Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old is bottled at 100 proof. Even as the crushed ice melts in your julep, your drink won't turn into a watery mess. This is a wheated bourbon, meaning it's made from a mix of corn, malted barley, and wheat instead of the more common rye. As a result, it has a creamy and unctuous mouthfeel.

4. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

The Kentucky Derby is often called the Run for the Roses, since the winner is draped in a garland made of, you guessed it, roses. That, of course, immediately makes me think of Four Roses Bourbon. The iconic brand dates back to the 1880s and is produced in Lawrenceburg, KY. Its Small Batch Bourbon is delicious sipped neat or on the rocks, but at $34 and 90 proof (45% ABV), it's ideal for cocktails like a mint julep or a simple highball.

Four Roses has an incredibly complicated process for making its whiskey. It has two different recipes and five yeast strains. Consequently, its bourbons have a wide spectrum of flavors. Small Batch Bourbon, which is a blend of four of its whiskeys, has notes of fruit and baking spice that pair well with mint.

5. Old Forester Mint Julep

If you’re not in the mood for muddling and crushing ice, Old Forester’s bottled mint julep is not a bad option. It is handy to have if you’re hosting a big watch party and need to serve many people at once. In fact, this 60-proof (20% ABV) ready-to-drink cocktail is served at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby. While it is, of course, not a straight bourbon, it's made with historic Old Forester Bourbon. To serve, just pour the drink into a glass full of ice and, if you like, garnish it with a sprig of fresh mint.