It all started with one innocent comment.
Alex mentioned that people mix up mint juleps in an old coffee can and pass it around at parties, brandings, or on river floats.
Gene and Bryce immediately hit the brakes.
“Wait… that’s a thing?”
Within minutes, our text line was exploding, listeners were picking sides, and what started as a throwaway conversation had turned into one of the most entertaining debates we’ve had in a while.
Here’s what we learned on Mornings in the Country.
1. People have very different definitions of “normal.”
Alex couldn’t believe Gene and Bryce had never heard of passing around a coffee can of mint julep.
Gene and Bryce couldn’t believe Alex thought it was common.
Neither side was joking.
2. Apparently, where you grew up matters. Or does it?
The texts, DMs and phone calls started rolling in.
Some listeners said they’d seen it their entire lives.
Others insisted they’d lived in Nebraska for decades and had never even heard of it.
People from the same town (Oxford, we’re talking about you) gave us totally different answers.
3. The coffee can caused almost as much confusion as the mint julep.
Forget the drink for a second.
Bryce got hung up on one question:
“Who packs a coffee can on a river?”
Alex explained that the coffee can isn’t just the cup—it’s the mixing bowl. Shake everything together, then pass it around.
That explanation… didn’t exactly convince everyone.
4. Not everyone even knew what a mint julep was.
Several listeners admitted they’d only associated mint juleps with the Kentucky Derby.
Gene summed it up perfectly when he wondered if anyone in Nebraska actually drinks them.
That question alone could’ve been its own debate.
5. Then Nebraska started picking sides.
Once Alex asked for backup, the responses poured in.
Some favorites:
“Gene needs to experience a mint julep. I can’t believe he’s never had one.”
“We’ve done this at brandings for years.”
“Born and raised in Nebraska. Never heard of it.”
“It’s a river tradition.”
“I thought everyone did this.”
And just when we thought one side had won, another text would arrive saying the exact opposite.
6. The best debates aren’t about being right.
Nobody was arguing politics.
Nobody was trying to “win.”
It was just one of those wonderfully random conversations where everyone listening suddenly had a story to tell.
7. We still don’t have a final answer.
So now we’re asking you.
Is passing around a coffee can of mint julep…
Completely normal
Something you’ve heard of but never done
Absolutely not
Or…
What’s a mint julep?