NEW HOPE, Ky. (WDRB) — The "most exciting two minutes in sports" wouldn't be complete without one of its most iconic traditions: the mint julep.
Weeks before the drinks are poured at Churchill Downs, the key ingredient starts its journey in the fields of central Kentucky.
At Nelson Family Agriculture in New Hope, rows of fresh spearmint stretch across about 2.5 acres of Nelson County farmland. It's here where farmer Nick Nelson and his crew begin the labor-intensive process that helps bring Derby season to life.
"We take a lot of pride in it," Nelson said.
That pride comes with early mornings and long days. Nelson said he's often up by 4:30 or 5 a.m., working side-by-side with his younger brother and a small team to hand-cut thousands of bundles of mint.
"It's a ton," Nelson said. "When everything's done by hand, it's a lot."
Each spring, the farm harvests around 5,000 dozen bunches of spearmint to meet the Derby demand. The work can stretch right up to Kentucky Derby day itself.
"We'll cut all day," Nelson said. "I'll cut Derby morning if I need to."
The process is anything but simple. From planting and maintaining the crop to harvesting and packaging, Nelson said every step requires time and precision.
"It's very labor intensive," he said.
Still, Nelson said it's worth it. Derby season alone makes up about 25% of his farm's yearly business.
"I wouldn't do it if it wasn't worth it," he said.
Once harvested, the mint is carefully boxed and shipped to Churchill Downs in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, where it will be used in thousands of mint juleps served to racegoers.
Nelson joked you never know where his product might end up.
"Maybe Michael Jordan might be holding this bunch that you're cutting right now," he said with a laugh.
From quiet rows in Nelson County to the roar of the crowd at Churchill Downs, the journey of Derby mint is a behind-the-scenes tradition that helps define the iconic race. And when the gates open and the crowd cheers, the first batches of mint have already crossed their own finish line — from farm to glass.
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