Mint Julep

A mint julep is a bourbon cocktail that is packed with fresh mint, giving the drink a light, refreshing flavor. Be sure to use good bourbon in these stiff Kentucky cocktails—this handy guide will help you select the best bourbon for your mint julep.

You don't have to wait for the first Saturday in May to enjoy a mint julep. Sure, you can serve them at your next Derby party—and complement the cocktail's flavors with a decadent Kentucky Bourbon Pie for dessert. But these are welcome any time of year, especially when the drink's frosty temperatures will cool you down.

Learn how to make a mint julep, and grab the silver cup. You'll want one right away.

The History of the Mint Julep

The mint julep is a drink steeped in rich history. What most people don't know is that before the drink became a signature bourbon cocktail at the Kentucky Derby, it was actually made with rum.

Southern growers willingly traded tobacco for the spirituous libation, distilled by New England settlers. Rum soon became, in the opinion of many, all too popular. "Demon rum" became the impassioned denunciation from early American pulpits. The planter's morning draft, the julep, was made of rum long before corn whiskey made its appearance.

Now, the mint julep has cemented its spot as one of the South's signature cocktails, with bourbon replacing rum as the spirit of choice.

What Ingredients Are in a Mint Julep?

For the classic mint julep, you'll need just four ingredients:

• Bourbon: Use your favorite. The bourbon is balanced with sugar and mint, but you'll want to pick a fairly good quality bourbon because the flavor won't be masked.
• Fresh mint leaves: It's not a mint julep without mint. You actually want to use spearmint as its flavor is more cooling and refreshing.
• Powdered sugar: This type of sweetener dissolves easily, lending a nice balance to the bourbon's bitterness.
• Ice: You need ice and lots of it— and not just any ice will do for a true mint julep. You want crushed ice. That size of ice is needed to rapidly cool the spirits when they're poured over the ice and stirred. Larger cubes won't do the job a well.

How To Make a Mint Julep

With a jigger and a silver cup, this is a fairly simple drink to make. Here are the basic steps:

• Step 1. Chill the glasses: The ice will certainly cool this drink down, but serving in a chilled glass is a great way to make sure the julep is extra crisp and refreshing.
• Step 2. Press the mint leaves: Place some of the mint leaves in the bottom of the julep glass, and use a muddler or spoon to press the leaves firmly. This releases the leaves' oils and flavor.
• Step 3. Add sugar and water: Combine the powdered sugar with a bit of water in the bottom of the cup. Stir just until the sugar is dissolved.
• Step 4. Add ice: Pack the crushed ice into the cup about 2/3 of the way to full.
• Step 5. Add bourbon: Add the spirits to the ice, and stir to thoroughly mix the bourbon and chill it rapidly. Fill the glass with more ice, and add the remaining bourbon. Stir once again, and then repeat with the other three glasses.
• Step 6. Garnish: If you wish, add a garnish of mint leaves to the julep. For the best aromatic experience, slap the leaves across your hand to "awaken" the oils and scents.

Why Are Mint Juleps Served in Silver Cups?

Like the crushed ice, the pewter or silver julep cups are designed to make mint juleps as cold as possible—and keep them cold as long as possible. You'll probably see folks holding the cup by the handle or rim so the warmth from their hands doesn't melt the ice in the cup faster. Any cup will work. It just depends on how traditional you want to be.

What Bourbon Is Used in Mint Juleps?

You can use any bourbon you prefer for your mint julep. If you're enjoying this on the day of the Kentucky Derby, however, it makes sense to use a Kentucky bourbon. We're big fans of Old Forester and Woodford Reserve, which is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby's mint juleps.