The Mint Julep, a tradition deeply embedded in our southern culture, is best served in the appropriate Julep Cup.  Originally served in a gold plated or sterling silver cup (shown in the inset), today’s Juleps are made more affordable by the beautiful hand crafted pewter cups that are polished to resemble silver.  Historically, these cups were used as prizes and treasured gifts in the 18th and 19th century, and today are popular wedding gifts given in sets, or singly presented to commemorate special occasions such as birthdays and graduations. Part of the Julep Cup tradition is to have the cups engraved with a family crest, a personal monogram, a special event, or names and dates.

The real purpose of these handsome cups is to serve a icy, frosty cocktail – mainly a Mint Julep.  Made of four simple ingredients, mint, sugar, bourbon and water, the making of a Mint Julep is more  a ritual than just mixing up a drink at your bar.  There is a certain ceremonial feel when preparing and serving this simple, yet complex, cocktail.  The traditional Mint Julep is made by putting fresh mint leaves, sugar and a bit of water in the bottom of the pewter Julep Cup.  Muddle the mixture with a wooden spoon and let it rest for a few minutes.  Add crushed ice,  bourbon and  a sprig of slightly bruised fresh mint.  Gently stir the julep to allow the cup to form a frost on the outside.  The Mint Julep is ready to serve and enjoy!

Consider using these Julep Cups for other purposes around your home.  They make terrific and stylish flower vases and are popular for centerpieces at weddings.  They are commonly used on desks to hold pens and pencils.  They make the perfect gift for all occasions, and are an excellent corporate gift for clients when engraved with your logo.  These cups fit beautifully in all decors, from traditional to the contemporary and all styles in between!

The Best Selling Monticello Jefferson Cup

I often wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think if he could see how many Jefferson Cups have been purchased, engraved and presented as gifts.  Mr. Jefferson started with a simple model and two silver cups that were bequeathed to him by his friend, George Wythe.  With written instructions to a silversmith, he requested that the two inherited silver cups be melted down to make a set of 8 cups following his specific design.  Each cup was to have the inside gilded with gold.  This set of cups was used by Mr. Jefferson at Monticello and were a regular part of his dining table setting.  Of the 8 cups first made in 1810, 6 survive.  In the 1830′s, Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, Martha,  passed them on to each of her 5 children and one to a grandchild.  The location of the remaining two cups is unknown at this time.

This type of cup, or tumble,  was a popular choice of drinking vessel in the 17th and 18th centuries.  In the 21st century, they seem to be even more popular and are used for much more than their original purpose.  Today the majority of the Jefferson Cups are made of pewter, which is a very good alternative to the silver, in that it does not need to be polished.  However, silver Jefferson Cups can also be purchased, and are exceptionally beautiful.

The Jefferson Cup is the number one seller on our website!  There is a very good reason for this.  Not only do the have the long history behind them, but they are so versatile and can be used in so many ways.  They are presented as baby gifts, wedding presents, corporate awards, and trophies.  We engrave a lot of them for scholastic achievements and graduations.  We find that our customers use them as part of their dining service or bar, keep them on their desk or dressers for a catch-all, or just proudly display them to commemorate an event or special moment.  Any way they are used, I’m sure that Thomas Jefferson would be astounded at how his simply elegant and elegantly simple cup has become such a popular choice for the 21st home.