![]() While Cato's exact birthplace in 1780 is unknown -though many believe he was born in New York and was freed in 1799 from New York's controversial slavery abolition law- he brought many Southern influences into his cocktail creations, including winter favorite eggnog. to be known as 'cocktails' 20-30 years before Jerry Thomas was born. That was actually Cato Alexander, whose drinks were the first outside of the U.S. No, Jerry Thomas did not create the cocktail nor is he the 'father of mixology'. ![]() He was also known for his mixology skills, becoming famous for milk punches, juleps, and his own blend of Virginia eggnog. According to historians, the classic mint julep recipe was created by either Cato Alexander or John Dabney, two Black bartenders who were born enslaved but bought their own freedom and their families' freedoms through bartending.Ĭato Alexander, the Father of Mixology, was well known in the 1810's to the 1850's for serving many different types of juleps made with the finest cognacs and brandy just outside New York City, where Manhattan now resides, in his own tavern called Cato's. The beginning of the mint julep as a prized drink started in the bars tended by free and enslaved Black men. The first written mention of a mint julep as a refreshing beverage was in the 18th century at Wag-Wam Gardens' menu for guests in Norfolk, Virginia, called the Iced Julip.and we know that a slave owner was not shaving ice, learning culinary skills (they usually sent their enslaved servants to be taught by chefs), or creating cocktails for guests. They were medications, and even when Virginians had warped the medicinal julep to be a simple recipe of half water/half liquor (usually a low quality, high proof rum) they'd shoot it back quickly with a sprig of mint and a lump or two of sugar to cut down on the bite of the low quality liquor they'd call 'kill devils', the drinks were more like their version of a double shot of espresso in the morning before work. These juleps weren't the mint juleps we all know as the signature drink of the Kentucky derby. The English created a drink they called the 'julep', a which made its way to the early U.S with colonizers, which was a crackpot medicine made with alcohol, herbs, and camphor (we now know that camphor taken orally can cause breathing problems, seizures, and death). The word comes from Spanish Arabic 'julepe' which is derived from the Persian Arabic term 'gulab', which is a drink made with sweetened water and rose petals known to lift the spirits and give a better life, so I suppose that is why the julep started as a medication. So the term 'julep' actually comes from the Arabic areas of the world. Visit all the Juneteenth food bloggers' recipes.The Southern Dream Marketing Ploy - The Post-Civil War Mint Julep of Today.It's perfect for these hot summer days and evenings and it will definitely make everyone you serve one to give you a round of applause. So this Juneteenth, I'm going to teach you history behind the beloved Derby party drink and give you the ultimate guide on how to create the drink so delicious and beautiful that the bartenders who made them would gain rapport with princes and presidents. Now, for Juneteenth we usually drink red drinks, symbolizing the blood shed throughout the suffering from colonization and slavery, but I figured we should enjoy another that is also part of Black history!Īnd let me tell you how surprised I was that none of my food blogging peers had the true history about how Black people, specifically Black mixologists, created and popularized the Mint Julep. Last year, Juneteenth exploded into the mainstream consciousness and I got a ton of readers and followers thanking me for teaching about America's hidden history, especially through food. ![]() Additionally, you can easily follow each participant by using the hashtag #JuneteenthCookout2021 on Instagram. Join in, share, and help us continue the legacy of celebrating progress. Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day, the final emancipation of those enslaved in the US back in 1865. ![]() 40+ black creators contributed to this collaborative menu as a Freedom Day tribute. Join me in celebrating Juneteenth by checking out the list of contributors to the 2021 Juneteenth Virtual Cookout down below. This mint julep recipe is created and served the forgotten 'champion' way to celebrate the Black bartenders who perfected and mastered the Mint Julep to make it the popular Derby Day cocktail it is today. The Mint Julep is a classic cocktail perfect for a warm day. Please see my Full Disclosure Policy for more details.
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