Kentucky Derby Mint Julep (Printable)

A refreshing mint julep featuring fresh mint syrup and sparkling water for a cool, vibrant drink.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 completely. Remove from heat and add mint leaves. Steep for 5 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - Fill two julep cups or drinking glasses with 1 cup of crushed ice each, distributing evenly to the brim.
03 - Pour 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of cooled mint syrup over the crushed ice in each glass.
04 - Add 1/2 cup of cold sparkling water or club soda to each glass. Stir gently with a bar spoon for 10 seconds to blend all components.
05 - Crown each glass with a generous bundle of fresh mint sprigs. Insert a straw and serve immediately while ice remains intact.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The mint syrup is so simple you'll wonder why you've never made it before, and suddenly every drink tastes like a celebration.
  • It's the kind of mocktail that doesn't feel like you're missing anything, because that brightness hits different when the heat is relentless.
  • You can make a batch of syrup on Sunday and feel impossibly prepared all week long.
02 -
  • If you don't let the syrup cool completely before pouring, the heat will start melting your crushed ice into dilution before you've even taken a sip.
  • Fresh mint can vary wildly in how much flavor it carries; a leaf test (chewing one quickly) tells you if you need to adjust steeping time or quantity.
  • Crushed ice melts faster than cubes, which sounds like a problem but actually means this drink stays perfectly balanced for about fifteen minutes—the window when it matters most.
03 -
  • Make mint syrup in larger batches and refrigerate it for up to two weeks; you'll suddenly find yourself making these drinks far more often than you expected.
  • The temperature of your glass matters more than people think—chill them in the freezer for five minutes before serving and the drink stays cold longer without over-diluting.
  • If you're making these for a crowd, set up a simple station with syrup in a pitcher and let people customize their sweetness level; everyone feels involved and happy.
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