Classic Mint Julep
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Get out your best hat and turn on the Kentucky Derby — we’re making Mint Juleps! This classic cocktail made with bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint is as easy as it is refreshing. If you love a Mojito AND you love bourbon, you’ll absolutely love it. But I firmly believe the Mint Julep is the best cocktail to get you introduced to bourbon because it’s smooth and easy-sipping. Get your mint and get muddling, we’ve got a horse race to watch!
Watch Me Mix a Mint Julep
How to Make a Mint Julep
- To a mint julep glass, add fresh mint leaves and simple syrup.
- Gently muddle by pressing, twisting, and lifting – don’t bruise the mint by over-muddling. This will make it bitter, you just want to express the oils.
- Add your bourbon of choice.
- Add in crushed ice and mix with a bar spoon to chill the mint julep glass. A mint julep glass is a signature look, but you can make without if need be!
- Once you’re done mixing, pack with more crushed ice.
- Garnish with a freshly smacked mint bouquet (yes, smack it in your hand to express the oils) and a straw!
What is a Mint Julep?
It’s hard to know if the Mint Julep would be as famous as it is if it weren’t for the Kentucky Derby where it has been the signature drink since 1939. As far as sporting event cocktails go, the Mint Julep is one of the most well-known and well-loved. It’s an easy 3-ingredient cocktail made with bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint leaves. When made with Kentucky Bourbon (as it should) it really celebrates the home of the most famous horse race in the country.
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Mint Julep Ingredients
Bourbon
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from mostly corn, but is often a mix of grains. It’s usually aged in charred oak barrels and therefore has a subtly sweet, oaky flavor with notes of vanilla. If you’re looking to buy a bottle for your own Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps, try one of my favorite bourbons:
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon: The official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby! It has notes of citrus, caramel, and baking spices. Woodford is bold enough to stand out for Derby Day while still being super approachable.
- Makers Mark: You really can’t go wrong. It’s vanilla, caramel, and soft fruit flavors make it super smooth and approachable because it removes rye spice and replaces it with wheat.
- Four Roses: This one has notes of light fruit and honey, with just enough spice to balance the sugar and dilution.
- Basil Hayden: A great pairing for a Mint Julep, with minty/herbal notes along with pepper and light oak. It doesn’t overpower the mint, it enhances it!
Mint
Either buy fresh mint or grow your own. Remove the individual mint leaves from the stem and gently muddle with the simple syrup. Garnishing with a mint sprig also carries the flavors forward as you smell the fresh mint with every sip.
Simple Syrup
While some bourbons can have their own subtle sweetness, the simple syrup in a Mint Julep balances the liquor’s richness. You can buy simple syrup, but it’s one of the easiest ingredients to make at home. If you can boil water, you can make simple syrup!
Tips for Making the Best Mint Julep
- When you muddle the mint with the simple syrup, don’t muddle it too aggressively. You want to avoid breaking up the leaves and bruising them because it will make the cocktail bitter. You just want gently press, twist, and lift with your muddler.
- When garnishing with a fresh mint sprig, smack the mint against the palm of your hand or the countertop to release the oils. This will release a much stronger mint smell that makes the Mint Julep even more minty as you sip.
- Use crushed ice! These refreshing, fast-drinking cocktails benefit from crushed ice instead of larger cubes because it dilutes this booze-forward cocktail more quickly and chills it more quickly as well.
- Batch your Mint Juleps in a pitcher by swapping the oz. measurement for cups (multiply the number of mint leaves by about 8 to get 64-80 mint leaves. You don’t have to count every single leaf… just use a lotttt of mint leaves.)
Why You’ll Love a Mint Julep
- Even if you don’t follow the horse racing scene, mixing up some Mint Juleps, throwing on a fun hat, and cheering on the horses is the perfect way to spend Derby Day.
- If you love a mojito and you love bourbon, the Mint Julep is the cocktail for you.
- As the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby is Louisville, the Mint Julep embodies southern flavors and charm. Even beyond Derby Day, it makes for a refreshing cocktail to help you beat the heat or when you’re hosting friends or family for an impromptu pitcher on the front porch.
- Speaking of impromptu hosting, this is one of the easiest cocktails to make because as long as you have a bottle of bourbon on hand, the simple syrup and mint are pantry staples you probably have on hand or can make (or grow!) yourself.
Mint Julep Variations
- Switch up the alcohol: If you swap bourbon for another type of whiskey, it’s not technically a Mint Julep, but I won’t tell if you don’t. You could use rye or another kind of whiskey like Irish or Scotch.
- Flavored Simple Syrup: A plain simple syrup of equal parts sugar and water is the traditional sweetener in this classic cocktail, but you could infuse it with other flavors. The obvious choice here would be to make a mint syrup, but you could also make a vanilla syrup to go with the bourbon, or a lemon syrup to play off the freshness of the mint.
Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz. bourbon
- 3/4 oz. simple syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
Instructions
- To a mint julep glass add fresh mint leaves and simple syrup.
- Gently muddle by pressing, twisting, lifting – don’t bruise the mint by over-muddling. This will make it bitter, you just want to express the oils.
- Then add your bourbon of choice.
- Add in crushed ice and mix with a bar spoon to chill the mint julep glass, a mint julep glass is crucial but you can make without if need be!
- Once you’re done mixing, pack with more crushed ice.
- Garnish with a freshly smacked mint bouquet (yes, smack it in your hand to express the oils) and a straw!
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Love love love this classic mint julep recipe! So easy and delicious …