Mint Julep recipe

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.

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 Bond 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 you’re 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…