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The Mint Julep is a drink that’s been around since the 18th Century and is firmly rooted as a classic.

Like most classics, it’s only got a couple of ingredients, it’s easy to make, and it’s boozey yet sweet.

You make it by mixing Mint Leaves, Bourbon, and Simple Syrup.

Let’s take a closer look at the drink, or you can just jump directly to the recipe.

mint julep recipe

What Ingredients do you Need to Make a Mint Julep?

You just need Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Mint Leaves.

Bourbon

Bourbon is a type of Whiskey. It was created in America and is a barrel-aged distilled liquor that’s made primarily from corn.

The name Bourbon originates from the French Bourbon Dynasty, but how this type of American whiskey got that name is up for debate.

Major contenders include:

  • Bourbon Street in New Orleans
  • Bourbon County in Kentucky

…with the latter the reason why Bourbon is so closely connected to Kentucky.

Interestingly, by law, Bourbon sold in the US must be produced in the US, be made from at least 51% corn, and stored in a container of charred oak.

For Bourbon, we recommend:

Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup is a common ingredient in cocktails and is used simply to sweeten a drink.

You can buy the syrup off the shelf, but it’s also pretty easy to make yourself. It’s made by combining sugar and water in equal parts – simple, right?

If you do want to buy it off the shelf, we recommend:

What Equipment do you need to Make a Mint Julep?

To make a Mint Julep, it’s adviseable to use the followiung Cocktail Equipment.

Cocktail Shaker

Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.

There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bonds says "shaken, not stirred". And that reason is: because it tastes better.

If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed Cocktail Shaker comparison article.

But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:

Jigger

It’s important to get the mix of any cocktail right. The measurements are set for a reason – to specify a tried, tested, and tasty drink.

A jigger is going to help you get those perfect measurements – after all, it is what the pro’s use.

For a jigger, we recommend:

Hawthorne Strainer

If you (or perhaps the person your buying for) don’t have a Hawthorne strainer as part of a cocktail shaker set, it’s a great, and incredibly useful, cocktail gift you need in your cocktail toolbox.

The strainer is typically used to remove the ice (or any other unwanted solid ingredients) from your cocktail as it’s poured from the cocktail shaker into your glass.

For a Hawthorne Strainer, we recommend:

Julep Cup

A Julep Cup is the traditional cup Mint Juleps were served in.

They were usually silver or pewter and always held at the bottom. Why? Because the Julep Cups were always frosted as part of the recipe.

For Julep Cups, we recommend:

How to make a Mint Julep

Now, let’s dive into the recipe…

Mint Julep cocktail

Recipe card

Mint Julep

Rated 4 out of 5 (4 ratings)
Prep 1 minMaking 1 minTotal 2 mins
Serves 1Calories 187 kcal

Ingredients

Makes 1 drink.

Method

  1. Add ice and the Mint Leaves to your Cocktail Shaker.
  2. Measure the Simple Syrup and Bourbon using a Jigger and then add to your cocktail shaker.
  3. Shake well until the cocktail shaker is cold to the touch.
  4. Add crushed ice to a Julep Cup.
  5. Use a Hawthorne Strainer to  strain the mix into the Julep Cup from the cockail shaker.
  6. Stir gently with a bar spoon and top with more crushed ice so the Julep Cup forms frost on the outside.
  7. Garnish with a sprig of Mint.

Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup is a common ingredient in cocktails and is used simply to sweeten a drink.

You can buy the syrup off the shelf, but it’s also pretty easy to make yourself. It’s made by combining sugar and water in equal parts – simple, right?

If you do want to buy it off the shelf, we recommend:

Bourbon

Bourbon is a type of Whiskey. It was created in America and is a barrel-aged distilled liquor that’s made primarily from corn.

The name Bourbon originates from the French Bourbon Dynasty, but how this type of American whiskey got that name is up for debate.

Major contenders include:

  • Bourbon Street in New Orleans
  • Bourbon County in Kentucky

…with the latter the reason why Bourbon is so closely connected to Kentucky.

Interestingly, by law, Bourbon sold in the US must be produced in the US, be made from at least 51% corn, and stored in a container of charred oak.

For Bourbon, we recommend:

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