There are many reasons to love Rachel Maddow, not the least of which is she makes cocktails during her MSNBC show (as she has done at previous jobs).

Last night, after discussing the filly named Rachel — the best 3-year-old you won’t see racing in today’s Kentucky Derby — master mixologist Dale DeGroff made a frosty mint julep:

3/4 oz. simple syrup or one teaspoon sugar
4 mint leaves and a sprig of mint
(Use tender, young sprigs.)
2 1/2 ounces Maker’s Mark Bourbon

Preparation:

Prepare some very cold, very dry powdered ice with large cubes of Kold Draft ice and a canvas ice bag. Bruise the mint leaves in the bottom of a julep cup with sugar or sugar syrup and then remove the muddled leaves. Add ice to the three quarter mark and half of the bourbon. Stir to chill the julep cup. Top off with more powdered ice and the remaining bourbon and continue to stir until the outside of the cup begins to freeze. Garnish with the mint sprig and set aside to rest while the julep cup freezes over on the outside. Pick up carefully and imbibe.

Of course, we learned last year that this isn’t exactly keeping with tradition, but never mind. With the Belmont Stakes right around the corner, you might also want to check out the Belmont Breeze (scroll down).

In other culture/sport pairings

, Peter Hartlaub offers his picks for the ultimate pop culture horse race. Would you place bets on The Black Stallion or Pie-O-My?

Related stories from PopPolitics: Sports and the Profit Motive: The Coming Demise of Horse Racing; Keeping Tradition Alive: The Derby, writes Richard Crepeau, is one of those signature American events that offers a snapshot of sports culture while simultaneously reflecting the many divisions of American society.