5 Mint Julep Recipes

A delicious cocktail is the perfect way to stay cool and refreshed when the weather starts to warm up. Try mixing up a mint julep recipe at your next cocktail party or summer soiree! You can also make these Kentucky Derby cocktails if you’re hosting a get together to celebrate the famed horse races. Most mint julep recipes contain bourbon whiskey, mint, water, sugar and ice, but there are many ways to put a twist on this beverage. Here are some suggestions for a mint julep 5 ways.

The Original
Simple, classic, and so easy to make.

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)

• 4 fresh mint sprigs
• 2 ½ oz bourbon whiskey
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 2 tsp water

Muddle the mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add your bourbon. Top with more ice and finish by garnishing with a mint sprig and serving with a straw.

Blackberry-Mint Julep
The tartness of the berries in this recipe is the perfect match for the drink’s signature sweetness.

Ingredients (makes 4 drinks)

• ½ cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 pint blackberries
• 6 tbs sugar
• ½ cup bourbon
• 4 cups small ice cubes
• 4 sprigs of mint for garnishing

To start, roughly chop the mint leaves (you can enjoy their fragrance while you're at it!) Using a blender, puree your mint, blackberries, and sugar. You will then want to press the liquid through a fine sieve and discard any seeds. A quick rinse will ensure that your blender is clean. Return the puree to the blender along with the bourbon and small ice cubes. Blend until smooth, divide the mixture among 4 glasses, and garnish each with a mint sprig. Your drinks will have a gorgeous tint of purple from the berries!

Mint Julep Martini
This alternative mint julep recipe is perfect for an elegant dinner party or nighttime event.

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)

• 6 to 8 mint leaves
• 1 tbs simple syrup
• crushed ice
• 2 oz vodka

Place the first three ingredients in the bottom of a tall glass. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to crush and mash the leaves to extract the flavor. Next, the vodka and shake several times to mix. Strain your cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Frozen Mint Julep
A true summertime treat that is extra frosty and extra minty.

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)

• 1 pint peach sorbet
• 1 handful fresh mint
• 6 oz bourbon

Place all ingredients in a blender with ice and blend until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, you can simply add more ice and blend again until you reach the desired thickness.

Non-Alcoholic Mint Julep
Perfect for the kids or any guests who are avoiding alcohol.

Ingredients (makes 1 pitcher)

• 1 lb granulated sugar
• 6 cups water
• 1 ¼ oz lime juice concentrate
• 8 ½ oz lemonade concentrate
• ¾ cup creme de menthe syrup

Begin by combining the sugar and water in a 3 quart saucepan and stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Next, add in your lime and lemon concentrate, stirring until the liquid is just below the boiling point. Remove pan from heat and chill. Finish by adding a ratio of 1 part syrup to 5 parts chilled water into a pitcher. If you’d like, you can garnish each serving with a mint leaf, a slice of lime, or a maraschino cherry.

Serve your mint juleps in traditional pewter or silver cups and sip away as you enjoy the beautiful summer weather!