Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Mint Julep

The drink of the Kentucky Derby: bourbon and sugar over a mountain of crushed ice, perfumed with fresh mint. Cold, aromatic and Southern to the core.

Preparation~2 minEasyStrengthStrongabout 45% ABVMethodMuddled5 guided stepsIngredients3Short (rocks) glass

Muddled

In the glassFresh mint · White sugar · Bourbon

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear rocks glass with low straight sides and a heavy base. — Serving glassRocks glass

Set up before you pour

Use a rocks glass.

The low, sturdy bowl suits concentrated drinks and gives one large cube enough width.

Standard size: 300 ml10¼ oz
Ice & serve: Pack it generously with crushed ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a small water tumbler with a heavy base.

Tools to set out

muddler (or the end of a rolling pin)
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your short (rocks) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Bourbon75 ml
Fresh mint10 leaves
White sugar2 tsp

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Press gently
Muddle fresh mint and white sugar in the glass
- Fresh mint
- White sugar
Why it mattersPress, don’t pulverize — you want the juice and the oils, not shredded pulp.
02
Measure and pour
Pour 75 ml bourbon
- Bourbon
03
Ice the glass
Fill the glass with crushed ice
04
Stir around the ice
Stir gently from the bottom up
Why it mattersLift the flavor up through the ice so every sip tastes of it.
05
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a sprig of mint
Why it mattersSlap the mint between your palms before planting it — that little hit releases the oils, and the smell is half the drink.

Know your drink

About the Mint Julep

An Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour and sparkling whiskey highball in a warm library bar.

Two minutes of racing, 120,000 juleps

The julep began as a Virginia gentleman’s morning "medicine" in the 1700s and became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938, where Churchill Downs now serves around 120,000 every Derby weekend in frosted silver cups.

Common questions

Mint Julep FAQ

Why does a mint julep need crushed ice?

Crushed ice is the engine of the drink: it chills the bourbon instantly, frosts the cup, and melts at exactly the rate that opens the whiskey up over ten minutes. Cubes can’t do any of that. Wrap ice in a towel and crush away.

Do you muddle the mint in a julep?

Barely — press it gently with the sugar just to wake the oils, or simply rub the leaves around the cup and discard. Shredded mint makes a bitter, leafy mess. The giant mint bouquet on top does most of the aromatic work — smell it with every sip.

What ingredients are in a Mint Julep?

A classic Mint Julep calls for 10 mint leaves Fresh mint, 2 tsp sugar White sugar, 75 ml (2.5 oz) Bourbon. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Mint Julep?

A standard Mint Julep is roughly 45% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it spirit-forward — closer to a Martini than to a beer, so sip it slowly.

What glass do you serve a Mint Julep in?

Serve a Mint Julep in a rocks glass (old fashioned glass), packed with crushed ice.

How many calories are in a Mint Julep?

One Mint Julep has approximately 220 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique