The Best Mint Julep Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What whiskey makes the best mint julep? ›

Since 1999, Woodford Reserve has held the title of “official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby,” and deservedly so — it's an excellent choice for a Mint Julep.

More mint julep recipes

For those looking to keep it really simple, Old Forester, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, makes a ready-to-serve Old Forester Mint Julep that only requires adding 0.75 ounces of simple syrup and mint leaves.

The Difference Between Mint Julep and Mint Mojito

A mint mojito is a shaken Cuban drink made with white rum, mint, sugar, soda water, and lime. A mint julep is usually built right in a co*cktail glass or silver julep cup and contains mint, simple syrup, and a spirit (nowadays bourbon).

Overall, the most common mint for juleps is spearmint, which harmonizes nicely with both the sugar and the bourbon. In a bow to tradition and the Derby, one variety of spearmint, with especially large leaves, was named 'Kentucky Colonel', however, any spearmint will work well in the drink.

Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby® honors “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of the 2024 commemorative Derby bottle.

The specialties — a Mint Julep, Oaks Lily, Spire or Margarita — are all $22. For any co*cktail, you're going to pay at least $18. Premium beers and seltzers are $14, and just a dollar less for domestics. Bartenders at the track said the special drinks were $18 last year, so they are $5 more than last year.

Mint Julep at Kentucky Derby 2024 inflates to a whopping $22 per drink... as comparison to years past goes viral.

Woodford Reserve, the heart and soul of Kentucky, proudly continues its legacy as the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby®. Celebrate tradition and excellence in every sip with this commemorative bottling.

Mint julep is an alcoholic co*cktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based co*cktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern United States in general, in particular as a symbol of the Kentucky Derby.

Do you use rye or bourbon for Mint Julep? ›

The traditional Derby Day co*cktail, and a southern ritual crafted from bourbon, simple syrup and mint.

On top of a small glass of crushed ice, with a sprig of fresh mint, Old Forester Mint Julep is certainly a more palatable experience. The syrupy sweetness is cut down considerably, leaving a gentle amount of residual sugar and revealing some peachy, stone fruity notes from the bourbon.

Size. The size of mint julep cups ranges between 12 and 16 ounces. There are cups available of larger and smaller volumes, but the average-sized cup holds a perfect amount of finely crushed ice and liquid for the mint julep co*cktail.

Ice: Mint juleps are traditionally served over ice. Crushed ice is best, but ice cubes will work. Bourbon: Try to use a Kentucky bourbon, such as Maker's Mark.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita 'Mitcham'). The best-tasting peppermint is found under various names throughout the country: 'Mitcham', black-stemmed, 'Blue Balsam', and even chocolate mint. It is highly mentholated, almost hot, and full of flavor.

“Wylie's artwork embodies the spirit of Woodford Reserve, the liveliness of Churchill Downs during race day, and the heart of Kentucky,” Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said.

For those of you who want to maximize the whiskey ginger's complex flavors, rye whiskey is the way -- but not just any old rye will do. Two rye whiskeys come to mind. High West Double Rye! is a wonderful product coming out of Park City, Utah.

The W.L. Weller Special Reserve bourbon is the closest-tasting bourbon to Pappy Van Winkle, as it shares the same recipe as the premium bourbon. Both bourbons are produced by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, with variations in the production process. Pappy Van Winkle is stored in a different warehouse from W.L. Weller.

The English Sherry Cask whisky, made by the English Distillery, based in the Breckland area of Norfolk, beat off competition from across the globe at the World Whiskies Awards in London. Mike Fisher, from The English Distillery, said: "We're absolutely over the moon, as you can expect.