Classic Mint Julep

How to make a mint julep! This ultra-classic cocktail features bourbon, ice and lots of fresh mint: a refreshing way to sip whiskey.

Here’s a cocktail best known for the Kentucky Derby, but you can drink it any time of the year! meet him Like a julep. No need to save it for special occasions: this bourbon cocktail is icy and refreshing, perfect for drinking anytime. Though it sounds like a sweet drink, remember that the mint julep is dry and forward-thinking. If you’re not a big whiskey lover, you’d better slurp up a whiskey smash instead. But bourbon lovers: this is your drink!

What’s in a mint julep?

The mint julep is actually one of the oldest cocktails: it was created in the 18th century in the southern United States. It was first mentioned in a document in 1784: as a doctor’s prescription for stomach ache! Yes, it was actually prescribed as a drug back then. It wasn’t until 1938 that the julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. But this time it had settled into cocktail tradition.

The Mint Julep is on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails. That means there is an “official” definition of it, which is:

There’s a bit of sugar to sweeten the drink, but the taste of a julep is usually dry and very bourbon-y (although juleps were traditionally sweet drinks). It’s more like a very cold whiskey with an essence of mint.

How to make a mint julep

It doesn’t take much engineering to make a mint julep! There are two main steps: grinding the mint and then serving the drink. Here’s what you need to do:

• Crush the mint with sugar and water. To puree, gently mash the mint 2-3 times with a cocktail pestle or wooden spoon. This releases the juice of the mint into the drink.
• Add bourbon and ice. Add bourbon and ice and stir. That’s all!

Want more mint drinks? Try these cool mint cocktails.

use glassware

The traditional way of serving a mint julep is in a silver or pewter cup: drinkers would then hold the cup by the rim to allow frost to form on the outside. But today there are many ways to serve it: most often in a lowball or old fashioned glass, as you see here. Also, most of us don’t have those traditional silver cups on hand… although you should definitely use them if you do!

Related Drink: Whiskey Smash!

If you prefer a more balanced and sweeter whiskey cocktail, try the Whiskey Smash! The Whiskey Smash is like a lemony version of the mint julep: it contains lemon and fresh mint. It has twice the sweetness, making it a little easier to drink. You can also add a little sparkling water to brighten it up. Honestly I prefer it to the mint julep! How to make a whiskey smash.

More of a classic bourbon drink

There are many classic whiskey cocktails and bourbon cocktails to try! Alex and I prefer the sweet taste of bourbon to rye whiskey, so we typically use it in these recipes:

When to serve a mint julep

The mint julep is classic and whiskey-forward; It’s perfect for sipping as:

• summer drink
• Happy hour drink
• Drink at dinner
• Aperitif at aperitif time