The Mint Julep is like the grand dame of bourbon cocktails – elegant, refreshing, and carrying more Southern charm than a Tennessee Williams play! Get ready to embrace your inner Southern belle/gentleman with this frosty cup of Kentucky sunshine! 🌿✨
Why I Like It
There’s something magical about watching that julep cup frost over as you stir, like Mother Nature’s own air conditioning! The aroma of fresh mint mixing with rich bourbon is intoxicating before you even take a sip. On a hot summer day, nothing beats the slow sipping pleasure of a properly made Julep – it’s like a Southern front porch in a cup!


The Best Ingredients For a Mint Julep
- Bourbon: Woodford Reserve ($35) is the official Derby choice, but Four Roses Single Barrel ($45) makes a stellar julep. Buffalo Trace ($30) is my go-to for its perfect balance of sweet and spice.
- Mint: Fresh spearmint ONLY – look for bright green leaves without any brown spots.
- Simple Syrup: Make your own (1:1 ratio) with pure cane sugar. Some traditionalists prefer powdered sugar or superfine sugar.
- Ice: Must be crushed to a snow-like consistency. No substitutions!
A Brief History of the Mint Julep
The Julep’s story begins in the 18th century, when it was actually prescribed as medicine! The word “julep” comes from the Arabic “julab,” meaning rosewater.
By the 1800s, it had evolved into Kentucky’s signature bourbon cocktail, becoming synonymous with Southern hospitality and refined living.
In 1938, the Mint Julep became the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs serves around 120,000 Juleps during Derby weekend! They even have a $1,000 version served in a gold-plated cup with silver straws (fancy much?).
Traditionally, julep cups were held by their bottom and top edges only – the frost was considered too precious to mar with fingerprints. Some say you should even admire the frost on the cup before taking your first sip!

Final Thoughts
The Mint Julep is a classic American cocktail that proves simplicity, when executed perfectly, is the height of sophistication.
Whether you’re celebrating Derby Day or just looking to beat the heat with style, the Mint Julep is your ticket to Southern sophistication. Just remember – like any proper Southern greeting, this drink shouldn’t be rushed! 🌿✨
And hey, if anyone questions your dedication to properly crushed ice, just remember what they say in Kentucky – anything worth doing is worth doing right! 🏇🥃
So what do you think of the Mint Julep cocktail? Will you be trying this one out? Let us know in the comments below (we read and reply to every comment).
I swear to god! This guy ruins almost every recipe I’ve seen??, someone pls. Stop him!!! You don’t shake a mint julep? You muddle and build it in a glass..I’ve had serious problems with this guys recipes in the past and he’s like a cancer to the bartending world!!!
Thank you Anthony. We posted the link to this vid a while back, definitely gonna switch it out for one that can do the mint julep more justice. We’d love your opinion on more of our content.