1952
ONE MINT JULEP * THE CLOVERS * ATLANTIC 963 * USA
The Clovers: John "Buddy" Bailey, Matthew McQuater, Harold Lucas, Harold Winley, and guitarist Bill Harris, first record, Yes Sir, That's My Baby was for the Rainbow label. Their next release on the Atlantic label, Don't You Know I Love You was a number one hit, after which they were never off the R&B charts for the next five years. One Mint Julep was their third Atlantic release. A 'mint julep' is a alcoholic drink, the classic mint julep as made in Kentucky, starts with a chilled silver mug or goblet filled with crushed ice. Dissolve 1 lump of sugar in a little water, fill with bourbon, add the dissolved sugar and stir well. Place 4 or 5 sprigs of fresh mint down into the ice. Serve and watch the Kentucky Derby. Mint is an ancient sign of hospitality; Greek mythology tells of two weary travellers who could find neither help nor hospitality on the road. Finally an old couple took them in, scoured a modest dining board with mint to refresh it, and prepared for the strangers a meal. The travellers turned out to be gods in disguise, who rewarded the old folks by remodelling their little hut into a glorious temple. Thereafter mint was considered a symbol of hospitality. The American word 'julep' can be traced to French julep, which comes from the Arabic julab, which is from the Persian julab, meaning rose water.