Mint Julep
Rocks GlassMuddle & build
Origin
American Southern folk cocktail with no single inventor; lineage traces to ancient Persian rosewater juleps, adapted in 18th-century Virginia with brandy/rum and later Kentucky bourbon. First printed reference in John Davis's 1803 Travels in the United States; became the official Kentucky Derby drink in 1938.
Variations
- Champagne JulepTop with champagne after building
- Peach JulepMuddle a peach slice with the mint
The Kentucky Derby's signature drink — bourbon, mint, and crushed ice over silver.
Ingredients
- 2½ oz Bourbon
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- 8–10 fresh Mint leaves
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Place mint leaves and simple syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass.
- Gently muddle to release the mint oils — don't shred the leaves.
- Add bourbon and fill the cup with crushed ice.
- Stir until the cup frosts on the outside.
- Top with more crushed ice to mound above the rim.
- Garnish with a generous mint sprig — slap it first to release aroma.
Tips
- A silver or pewter julep cup keeps it ice-cold, but a rocks glass works.
- Bury your nose in the mint sprig as you sip — that's the experience.
Related guides
Garnish Like You Mean It
Twists, wedges, rims, and cherries — what each garnish actually does, when to use it, and what to skip.
Ice Matters
Why the ice you use changes the drink, and which ice to use for what.
Whiskey Decoded
The five whiskey styles that matter, what makes each one different, and what to actually buy.