🌿 Mint Julep

Bourbon, fresh mint, and crushed ice — the Kentucky Derby classic. Never muddle the mint.

4 min
Serves 1
Built
Silver / Copper Cup
Ingredients
  • 2½ oz Kentucky Bourbon (Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, or Buffalo Trace)
  • 6–8 Fresh mint leaves (plus more for garnish)
  • ½ oz Simple syrup
  • Packed crushed ice
  • Powdered sugar (optional — for garnish)
Method
  1. 1
    Gently bruise the mintSlap the mint leaves sharply between your palms to wake up the aroma. Do NOT muddle the mint in the cup — muddling releases chlorophyll and bitter compounds that make the drink taste grassy and unpleasant.
  2. 2
    Add to cupPlace the slapped mint and simple syrup into a silver or copper julep cup (or rocks glass).
  3. 3
    Pack with crushed iceFill the cup generously with crushed ice.
  4. 4
    Add bourbonPour the bourbon over the packed ice. The bourbon will slowly work its way down through the ice.
  5. 5
    Stir and add more iceStir from the bottom to integrate. Add more crushed ice to mound over the top of the cup.
  6. 6
    GarnishPush a large bouquet of fresh mint into the ice close to the straw — the nose should be filled with mint aroma on every sip. The straw is traditional and essential.

Kentucky Derby and the Mint Muddling Debate

The Mint Julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1938. The race itself dates to 1875, and the Julep was being served at Churchill Downs long before it became official. Louisville goes through approximately 120,000 Mint Juleps over the two-day Derby weekend.

The great Julep debate is muddling versus not muddling the mint. Henry Watterson, a 19th-century editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal, wrote the definitive anti-muddling position: 'Plunge one hand among the curly green leaves and the other in crushed ice... Allow the mint to die in its sleep.' He was right. Muddled mint becomes bitter and grassy; bruised mint (gently slapped) releases only the volatile aromatic compounds.

Variations

🍑 Peach Julep

Add 2 tablespoons of fresh peach purée or ½ oz peach liqueur to the standard recipe. A Georgia variation on Kentucky's drink.

🥃 Rye Julep

Replace bourbon with rye whiskey. The peppery rye cuts through the mint sweetness for a spicier, drier version.

🌹 Rose Julep

Add ½ oz rose water and garnish with an edible rose petal alongside the mint. Floral and unexpected.

Related
🍸 Cocktails A–Z Browse all 72 classic recipes 🥃 Bourbon Guide No mint julep without good Kentucky bourbon 🌿 Mojito The rum-mint classic 🌿 Southside Mint and gin — the gin julep