This southern classic is THE drink of the Kentucky Derby, but it’s actually great anytime. Here’s a recipe and some variations.
We hear there’s a horse race this weekend, so Mint Juleps are on our mind. But honestly, it doesn’t have to be Kentucky Derby weekend to mix this one up. It’s an easy-to-make, spirit-forward cocktail that’s great for a lot of situations.
So, typical of our cocktail basics series, we’ll give you a standard recipe for the Mint Julep, offer some variations and tell you a bit more about this quintessentially southern drink. And there’s a bonus: Mulberry MAX is offering a free bunch of fresh mint this weekend with any purchase of a 750ml bottle of bourbon. It’s our way of easing you into a proper Mint Julep weekend, and it means you can make Mulberry MAX your source for Mint Julep ingredients.
Mint Julep history: A deeply southern origin story
The Mint Julep is a classic American cocktail with deep roots in southern tradition, entwined in the culture of Kentucky and the famed Kentucky Derby horse race. Its origins trace back to the 18th century, where people considered it a medicinal remedy.
Early references to juleps describe them as sweet, herb-infused concoctions used to mask the bitter taste of medicine. By the late 1700s, the Mint Julep had evolved into a refreshing alcoholic beverage, commonly made with brandy or rum and consumed in the American South, especially in Virginia and Kentucky.
Over time, bourbon supplanted other spirits as the base spirit for the Mint Julep, largely due to its local abundance and cultural significance in Kentucky. The combination of bourbon, fresh mint, sugar, and crushed ice became increasingly popular in the 19th century. Leisurely sipping a julep came to symbolize southern hospitality and refinement, cementing its place in the region’s social customs.
The Mint Julep’s most iconic association began in 1938, when it was designated the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Since then, it has become an enduring symbol of the event, with tens of thousands served each year at Churchill Downs. Undoubtedly, folks like us mix us thousands more from afar to celebrate American history and the big race through this classic cocktail.
Basic Mint Julep recipe
Note: This recipe is traditionally served in a julep cup made of pewter or silver, but who has one of those? Use a rocks glass if you don’t.
Ingredients:
¼ ounce simple syrup
8 mint leaves
2 ounces bourbon
Crushed ice
2 dashes Angostura bitters (optional)
Mint sprig, for garnish
Directions:
Add the mint leaves and simple syrup to your glass and muddle lightly, meaning don’t pulverize the mint. You want to avoid hunks of mint floating around your cocktail. Add the bourbon and some crushed ice, then stir until chilled. Add more crushed ice until the glass is full. Spank your mint sprig, then perch it atop the cocktail, and add the Angostura dashes, if using, to the top of the ice. That’s it.
Mint Julep variations
This cocktail is simple and traditional, so of course we should mess with that tradition, no? Here are a few ideas for elevating your Mint Julep or putting a different twist on it.
- Change up the bourbon: The spirit is 95% of this drink, so choose a bourbon you wouldn’t mind sipping neat.
- Go cask-strength: This is a spirit-forward cocktail, so why not double down? A cask-strength bourbon would really shine here.
- Amp up the mint: Use a mint simple syrup (recipe below) if you want a more pronounced mint flavor. Some mixologists actually use this instead of muddled mint. That’s not traditional, but if you make a batch of mint simple syrup, you can have a Mint Julep even when you don’t have mint on hand.
- Top with dark rum: This is how craft cocktail bar Death & Co does it, and we have to say, they aren’t wrong. But then, we might feel different if we were in Kentucky.
- Give a nod to history: Make a brandy or rum julep like it’s 1700. Just substitute either spirit for the bourbon.
- Use different simple syrups: You can make simple syrup with equal parts water and any type of sugar substance. Try molasses, brown sugar, demerara or honey. You can also infuse the syrup with spices such as black pepper, fennel, cardamom or whatever sounds good.
Mint simple syrup recipe
This also works great in a Mojito.
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon vodka (to make the syrup last longer)
Directions:
Add the water, sugar and mint to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir often until the sugar dissolves, then remove the pan from the heat. Allow the mixture to steep for an hour or so, then strain it into a container, add the vodka, and chill until you’re ready to use it.
A ready-to-drink Mint Julep option
Want some Mint Julep goodness without the mixing part? Old Forester has a bottled Mint Julep ready to drink. They also make the official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby, so you can be sure their RTD version is legit.
Mulberry MAX has everything you need for a stellar Mint Julep
If you’re ready to celebrate Derby weekend or just want to try this iconic cocktail, stop by Mulberry MAX. We’ve got fresh mint from Garden Sweet in Fort Collins and a wide selection of bourbons. Our knowledgeable staff will be glad to help you find all the ingredients for your Mint Julep adventure.
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