A Classic Mint Julep Recipe
For a fresh, refreshing drink to sip from the Kentucky Derby in May right on through summer’s dog days, look no further than the most famous bourbon cocktail of all: The classic Mint Julep. Much like our other beloved minty cocktails — looking at you Mojitos and Moscow Mules — this drink is all about the simple beauty of crushed ice + boozy heat + cooling fresh mint. Simple syrup sweetens things up just enough to make it all go down like a dream.
Mint Julep Ingredients
- Fresh mint.
- Bourbon whiskey.
- Simple syrup. Simple syrup is a classic cocktail ingredient, but don’t stress about having to buy anything special — it’s just sugar + water, and we’ll show you how to make it.
How To Make A Mint Julep
- Make mint simple syrup. It’s your Kentucky Derby party (or backyard BBQ, or summer hang out) and you want to mingle, not muddle! It’s a lot easier to make a lot of juleps in one go if you make syrup so there’s no need to muddle the mint and sugar for every drink! It’ll only take a few minutes to mix up an easy mint-infused simple syrup that you add straight to the bourbon and crushed ice. You can even make it up to a week ahead of time.
- Grab some crushed ice! You can use a ziplock bag and a rolling pin or get fancy with legit, julep-making, real deal ice crusher!
- Fill your julep cup until it’s mounded with crushed ice. You can use whatever cup you have on hand, but sterling silver julep cups are pretty fun to have around.
- Add the bourbon, and then a drizzle of your homemade mint syrup. Start with just a little simple syrup, and let guests add more as they desire—remember, you can always make it sweeter, but you can’t unsweeten.
- Garnish with fresh mint. Sip!
Tips For Making Mint Juleps
- Yes! You can make your minty simple syrup ahead of time! Make the syrup, let it cool and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Use good bourbon. Any high-quality bourbon that you like to drink on its own will work well. Some of our go-to brands that are widely available include Makers Mark, Bulliett and Buffalo Trace. If you’re not sure what to buy, ask the folks at the liquor store what they love that’s in your budget.
- Again with the fresh mint. When a cocktail has so few ingredients, you really want to be sure they’re all delicious. The mint julep is a celebration of fresh summer mint — use the best you can find.
More Classic Cocktail Recipes To Try
Cheers To Julep Season!
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