Cocktail family · 2 riffs
Mint Julep Variations
The Mint Julep is Kentucky’s signature drink, and it’s worth making well beyond Derby week. It’s bourbon, sugar and mint over a mountain of crushed ice, served in a cup that frosts over. Be gentle with the mint: press it to release the oils, don’t shred it, or it turns bitter.
The classic spec · IBA
Mint Julep
- Glass
- Julep cup or highball glass
- Method
- Built
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon
- 4 fresh mint sprigs
- 1 tsp powdered sugar
- 2 tsp water
Steps
- In a julep cup, gently muddle the mint with the sugar and water.
- Fill the cup with cracked ice and add the bourbon.
- Stir well until the cup frosts, then garnish with a mint sprig.
The full Mint Julep recipe: why it works, swaps and questions →
