Cocktail – Mint Julep
Few whiskey cocktails carry such ritual, romance, and refreshment as the Mint Julep.
A Southern icon and the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, it’s as much a performance as a pour — icy, minty, and steeped in genteel swagger. Behind its frosty façade lies a whiskey tradition that predates the cocktail craze by over a century.
Ingredients:
60ml bourbon
10–12 fresh mint leaves (plus a sprig for garnish)
10ml sugar syrup (or 1 tsp granulated sugar with a splash of water)
Crushed ice
Preparation:
Gently muddle the mint leaves with sugar syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass.
Add bourbon and half-fill with crushed ice. Stir until the cup begins to frost.
Top with more crushed ice to form a dome.
Garnish with a large mint sprig, clapping it gently to release its aroma.
Insert a straw near the mint to enhance the fragrance as you sip.
Hardware:
Glassware: Julep cup or rocks glass
Tools: Muddler, bar spoon, straw
Flavour Profile & Experience
Refreshing and aromatic. The Mint Julep delivers bold bourbon sweetness cooled by fragrant mint and softened by ice-cold dilution. The first sip is crisp, the last luxuriously mellow. Best enjoyed on warm afternoons, at garden parties, or anytime elegance calls.
Ideal with a high-proof, spicy bourbon — one that can hold its character as the ice slowly melts.
Variations & Modern Twists
Southern Peach Julep
Add a splash of peach liqueur or muddle fresh peach slices with the mint for a fruit-forward Southern flourish.
Smoked Julep
Swap out traditional bourbon for a peated Scotch to add a smoky dimension that plays surprisingly well with mint and sweetness.
Other riffs include using maple syrup in place of sugar, or crafting winter Juleps with chocolate-mint or spiced bitters.
What remains true? Crushed ice, fresh mint, and the ritual of slow sipping.
Always spank the mint, never muddle it harshly — bruising releases bitterness, while a gentle slap brings out its bright, essential oils. And never skimp on crushed ice; it’s half the drink’s magic.
The Mint Julep’s roots reach back to 18th-century Virginia, where it was originally a medicinal tonic made with brandy or rum. By the early 1800s, it had become a morning ritual for wealthy Southern planters — a cooling, spirituous start to the day.
As bourbon gained prominence in Kentucky, the Julep evolved into a whiskey-based delight, becoming synonymous with the American South. It was famously served in silver or pewter cups, designed to frost over with crushed ice — both to keep the drink cold and to show off one’s social standing.
The Julep’s association with horse racing solidified in 1938 when Churchill Downs made it the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby. Today, over 120,000 Mint Juleps are served during Derby weekend alone, and it remains a hallmark of American whiskey culture — slow, deliberate, and unmistakably stylish.
In these recipes we haven’t specified the whisky to use, as you know what you like best, and it also allows you to experiment.
However, if you want a start, a good light, vanilla forward single malt to use would be The Glasgow Distillery’s Original. If you are looking to add some smokey depth, try The English Smokey, or if you want something fruity, try Arran Sherry Cask ‘The Bodega’.
