Four ingredients go into the making of traditional mint juleps: Bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup, and crushed ice. The classic bourbon-based mint julep is today mostly synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, and was traditionally served in a silver or pewter cup. According to Wikipedia, 
almost 120,000 juleps are served at Churchill Downs over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks (the race for 3-year old fillies–female horses–held every year on the day before the Derby).
I’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby, though I do try to make myself a classic julep every year on Derby day. More often, and especially during the hottest summer days, I prefer a lighter, more refreshing version of the tonic, substituting gin for the bourbon. And instead of simple syrup I like to top this cocktail off with a splash of tonic, which adds not only sweetness, but also a hint of refreshing fizz as well as a pleasing trace of bitterness.
I shake rather than stir the gin julep so as to extract a generous amount of the mint’s essential oils. As for the drinking vessel, I’ll take good glassware over metal any day. With or without a horse race, a gin julep is one of summer’s most refreshing cocktails.
6-8 fresh mint leaves, plus one for garnish
3 ounces gin
2 ounces tonic
Place the mint and gin in a shaker. Fill the shaker about ¾ full with ice cubes and shake it vigorously for at least 15 seconds. Strain the mixture into a glass, add a couple of ice cubes and the mint leaf, and drink immediately.
Cheers!
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