Mint Julep Cocktail | Kentucky Derby Style

Best known as Kentucky’s most iconic cocktail, the mint julep is way too delicious to reserve for Derby Day. This mint julep recipe is made with bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint for a surprisingly refreshing whiskey cocktail you’ll love.

I had my first mint julep drink many years back. We were at our cousins house and it was Derby day. They asked me if I wanted to try one, and since I’m usually a creature of habit and have been feeling ‘stuck’ in my tastes, I said, “Sure, why not?”

I branched out and tried this bourbon cocktail because – unlike when it comes to food, where I’m adventurous and will try and like different and sometimes unpopular delicacies like kidney stew – when it comes to the drinks I make for myself, I tend to rehash the same ol’ repertoire.

Once I took a sip of this delicious drink, the melding of the flavors delighted my tastebuds. So from that day forward, I enjoyed the taste of the many drinks that have since crossed my path.

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Helpful tips

• Buy the freshest mint leaves you can find. I find that it mint lasts for a little over a week in the refrigerator.
• Muddling herbs or fruit in a cocktail is fun and easy. Here’s how to muddle the mint for this julep: place the mint and simple syrup in the glass. Next, take a muddler or if you don’t own one, the back of a wooden spoon and crush the mint with the syrup until you bruise the leaves and can smell the mint without sticking your nose in the glass. Now you’re ready for the next step.
• Since this cocktail only has 3 ingredients, use the best bourbon you can afford.
• Want to learn more about bourbon and all things whiskey? Here’s my comprehensive guide you might enjoy.
• Make your own simple syrup. It is easy and economical. Here’s how – Place 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and heat on medium. Once it comes to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Allow the simple syrup to completely cool before adding to your cocktails.
• You will be building this cocktail in the glass and although you see two cocktails in the photos below, I am writing the recipe for one cocktail.
• The mint julep recipe is usually served in a metal cup like I use. The reason is because it keeps the cocktail cold and allows the ice to melt slowly. But if you don’t have one, you can use a double old fashioned glass, high ball glass or rocks glass.

How to make a mint julep

Pre-step

Get the glassware, measuring glass and muddler.

After measuring out the ingredients, add them to the metal cup.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – Bourbon, simple syrup and mint.

Step two

Measure out 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.

Step three

Place the mint in the bottom of the glass, pour the simple syrup on top and muddle away until you can smell the aroma of mint without sticking your nose in the cup.

This shows the leaves muddled to perfection. Notice the bruising of the mint.

Step four

Measure out 2.5 ounces of bourbon.

Step five

Add crushed ice to the glass and pour the bourbon over it. This will cause some of the ice to melt so add more if you like.

Add at least one fresh mint sprig to the cocktail, but I love lots of fresh mint leaves to garnish the cocktail.

See how much the ice melts?

It didn’t help that I photographed this recipe during a heatwave.

And the vertical view.

Look at that frosty cup! I’m so excited to drink this.

I hope you enjoyed this mint julep cocktail recipe!

Other popular bourbon recipes

• Cherry mint julep
• New York sour
• Bourbon cranberry cocktail

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Originally published April of 2016.