Kentucky Derby Mint Julep (Print)

Cool Southern-style drink using fresh mint syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water for a refreshing twist.

# Ingredients:

→ Mint Syrup

01 - 1/4 cup water
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Mocktail

04 - 1 cup crushed ice
05 - 1 cup cold sparkling water or club soda
06 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 2 tablespoons mint syrup
08 - Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add mint leaves, and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and allow to cool completely.
02 - Fill two julep cups or glasses with crushed ice.
03 - Pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of mint syrup over the ice in each glass.
04 - Top each glass with 1/2 cup of sparkling water or club soda. Stir gently to combine.
05 - Garnish generously with fresh mint sprigs. Serve immediately with a straw.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer arrived in a glass, without any of the fuzzy regret the next morning.
  • Making your own mint syrup means you control the sweetness, which is honestly the only power we need on a sweltering day.
  • This is the rare mocktail that doesn't taste like you're missing out on the real thing.
02 -
  • If you muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass before adding ice, you unlock a deeper, almost more complex mint flavor that the steeping method alone can't quite reach.
  • Room temperature lemon juice and room temperature syrup won't fully chill when you add ice, so keep both cold in your fridge and the whole drink stays sharper longer.
03 -
  • The quality of your mint matters more than any other ingredient, so grow it if you can or befriend someone who does—it's genuinely transformative.
  • A tiny pinch of salt in the syrup sounds weird but it actually makes the mint pop and the whole drink taste less aggressively sweet.
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