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.