Classic Mint Julep Recipe
There are few cocktails as downright refreshing as the Mint Julep. With just a handful of simple ingredients including bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup, and crushed ice, this is one of the easiest drinks you can make, and the payoff is absolutely worth it.
The Mint Julep delivers a crisp, cool sweetness with an unmistakable kick of Kentucky bourbon. Whether you're hosting a backyard gathering or just treating yourself on a warm afternoon, this classic Southern cocktail never disappoints.
The Mint Julep has roots stretching back to 18th-century America, long before it became a symbol of Southern leisure. In its earliest days, the julep was not considered a leisure drink at all. It was a morning tonic, believed to have medicinal qualities. Farmers and early risers would mix a bit of bourbon with mint to freshen their morning.
Louisville bourbon historian Michael Veach notes that the mint julep was used back in the 1700s as a medicinal drink. Over time, as bourbon distilling flourished across Kentucky, the Mint Julep shed its reputation as a remedy and grew into something far more enjoyable: a refined symbol of Southern hospitality and good living.
The Mint Julep and the Kentucky Derby's History
The Kentucky Derby is held every year on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been a cornerstone of American sporting tradition since its first running in 1875.
The Mint Julep was not created for the Kentucky Derby. It was already a well-established Southern drink long before the race existed. However, Churchill Downs saw an opportunity and leaned into it. During the 1930s, the track began promoting the cocktail more heavily, and in 1938 started selling Mint Juleps in souvenir glasses.
That smart marketing move turned a simple drink into a Derby institution, more than tripling drink sales at the track. By 1939 the Mint Julep was named the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, and it has held that title ever since.
Today, more than 125,000 Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of Kentucky Oaks and Derby weekend at Churchill Downs. That requires more than 10,000 bottles of Kentucky bourbon, 2,250 pounds of freshly harvested mint, and 475,000 pounds of ice, all for a race that lasts about two minutes.
What You Need to Make This Mint Julep
- Mint simple syrup
- Fresh mint leaves
- Kentucky bourbon
- Crushed ice
- Hibiscus syrup
Bar Tools You Will Need
The mint julep is a cocktail built in the glass it is served in, which makes for a rather simple, straightforward, and refreshing drink.
- Muddler
- Long-handled bar spoon
- Mint Julep Glass
Classic Mint Julep Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1- ounce mint simple syrup
- 2 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces Kentucky bourbon
- crushed ice
- a drizzle of hibiscus syrup
- a sprig of fresh mint
Instructions
- Muddle two (2) mint leaves into the bottom of a glass, add simple syrup and stir.
- Top with crushed ice and a measurement of your choice of Kentucky bourbon.
- Using a long-handled bar spoon stir ice until the glass is cold. Drizzle a ½ ounce of hibiscus syrup.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Nutrition
Thirsty for More? Here is a few of my favorite Cocktail Recipes
- Vodka Martini
- Irish Coffee
- Irish Sour Apple
- The Perfect Irish Coffee Recipe
- Dirty Sweet Gimlet
- Hurricane Drink
- Blue Hawaii Drink
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sarah spencer says
thank you for posting. I've never had one from scratch before and I love them!!