Meggan Hill
• Updated
5 from 11 votes
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Place your bets and dig out your fanciest hats, because it’s Kentucky Derby season, and that means this Mint Julep Recipe should be on the menu. This classic co*cktail is sweet, refreshing, and perfectly festive for the season.
On the first Saturday in May, this legendary bourbon co*cktail is one of the mainstays in Louisville, Kentucky: bourbon, mint, and a bit of sugar come together to make a something strong and sweet with a totally refreshing flavor, just for Derby Day.
A classic Mint Julep recipe is just what you need while at the races and Derby parties, or at the very least, after a long day of digging all that wild mint out of your garden. Either way, a sip of this sublime drink, with it’s minty aroma, is a sure bet on warm spring days.
Table of Contents
- Recipe ingredients
- Ingredient notes
- Step-by-step instructions
- Recipe tips and variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Mint Julep Recipe Recipe
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Sugar: 2 teaspoons simple syrup can be substituted for the 1 teaspoon sugar + 1 teaspoon water. To make your own simple syrup, 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water together over medium-low heat in a small saucepan (do not boil). Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Mint: Mint Juleps are typically made with spearmint, not peppermint.
- Bourbon: There are lots of opinions on the best bourbon for a Mint Julep, but Woodford Reserve seems to be a crowd favorite (and it’s the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby). Look for a bourbon that is at least 90 proof if possible.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a silver julep cup or tall glass, combine sugar and water and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add fresh mint leaves and muddle in the bottom of the glass (do not strain).
- Fill half the glass with ice. Pour in 2 oz bourbon and stir to combine. Top with more ice and stir until the glass is frosty.
- Garnish a straw, a sprig of mint (the leaves still on the stems), and more crushed ice.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes one frosty Mint Julep co*cktail.
- Glassware: Mint juleps are often served in silver or pewter cups with beads along the rim so they are nice and frosty. If you’re lucky enough to have some, try holding the co*cktail only by the bottom and top edges of the cup, so the frost covers the outside of the cup. And chill the cups before making your drinks if possible.
- Big batch: Mint Juleps are best muddled one drink at a time, when you need them.
- No muddler:If you don’t have a co*cktail muddler, use the handle of wooden spoon to muddle your Mint Julep ingredients, or just shake everything together in a co*cktail shaker (you can read all aboutmy favorite co*cktail shakers, too).
- Mojito: More Cuba than Kentucky, a classic Mojito co*cktail is also generous with mint but made with rum instead of bourbon. Or try our non-alcoholic Mojito Mocktail.
- Manhattan: Not into mint? Try a Manhattan co*cktail, another classic bourbon drink that has sweet vermouth and old-fashioned bitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a mint julep?
The mint julep is a mixed drink made with bourbon, water, crushed or shaved ice, and the freshest mint. It’s a quintessentially Southern co*cktail and since 1938 it has been enjoyed by thousands at Churchill Downs during the two-day Kentucky Derby. Every year, as many as 120,000 juleps are made. That’s a whole lot of mint!
Why do you use silver cups for mint juleps?
Traditionally, mint juleps were often served in prized silver or pewter cups so they’d get frosty. If you’re lucky enough to have some, try holding the co*cktail only by the bottom and top edges of the cup, so the frost covers the outside of the cup. If you don’t have any on hand, fear not: you can use a double old-fashioned glass, a highball glass, or any co*cktail glass. This drink is so good, it hardly matters!
Do you have to use bourbon in a mint julep?
I would never crush your experimental spirit! During the 1800s, an aged gin called Genever could also be used with mint for juleps. Or try your favorite whiskey. Today, high-quality bourbon is the classic liquor.
How do you crush ice for a mint julep?
Even if you have a crushed ice feature on your refrigerator, it’s fun to make your own. I use an old school canvas bag and a wooden mallet, filling up the bag and whacking away until the ice cubes are small enough to be heaped high into each cup.
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Mint Julep Recipe
By Meggan Hill
Place your bets and dig out your fanciest hats, because it’s Kentucky Derby season, and that means this Mint Julep Recipe should be on the menu. This classic co*cktail is sweet, refreshing, and perfectly festive for the season.
Prep Time 1 minute min
Cook Time 1 minute min
Total Time 2 minutes mins
Servings 1 co*cktail
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Calories 184
5 from 11 votes
ReviewPrint
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon water
- 8 mint leaves (see note 2)
- 2 ounces bourbon (¼ cup) or more to taste (see note 3)
- fresh mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
In a julep cup or tall glass, combine sugar and water and stir to dissolve. Add mint leaves and muddle in the bottom of the glass.
Fill half the glass with ice. Add bourbon and stir to combine. Top with more ice and stir until the glass is frosty. Garnish generously with mint sprigs.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Sugar: 2 teaspoons simple syrup can be substituted for the 1 teaspoon sugar + 1 teaspoon water. Learn how easy it is to make your own simple syrup.
- Mint: Mint Juleps are typically made with spearmint, not peppermint.
- Bourbon: There are lots of opinions on the best bourbon for a Mint Julep, but Woodford Reserve seems to be a crowd favorite (and it’s the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby).
Nutrition
Serving: 1 co*cktailCalories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 130mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 340IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 0.5mg
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Meggan Hill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
