Mint Julep

The Mint Julep has no citrus in it

Anyone who tells you to balance a Julep with lime has never drunk one. This is bourbon, mint, sugar and a great deal of crushed ice, and the only acidity comes from the mint itself. Sugar softens the whiskey and crushed ice chills it fast.

Mint Julep measures in ml and oz

The IBA version uses 60 ml of bourbon with a teaspoon of powdered sugar and two teaspoons of water, muddled with four mint sprigs.

A silver julep cup holds 300 to 350 ml and frosts over within a minute or two, so the ice outside tells you the drink inside is cold enough.

Building it: muddle light, pack hard

Put the sugar, water and mint leaves in the cup and press them gently with a muddler, four or five soft presses, just enough to bruise the leaves. Grinding them releases chlorophyll and turns the drink bitter. Add half the crushed ice, pour in the bourbon, and stir with a bar spoon until the cup begins to frost, about 20 seconds. Top with more crushed ice, mounded above the rim, and stir again briefly. Add a fresh mint sprig, slapped against your palm first. Crushed or shaved ice gives the drink its texture.

Alcohol strength and calories

Ninety millilitres of 40% bourbon in a cup packed with crushed ice starts near 25% ABV and falls to about 20% as the ice melts over ten minutes. Expect roughly 200 kcal and some 29 ml of pure alcohol.

Bourbon choice

A high-rye bourbon such as Bulleit or Old Grand-Dad gives a spicy edge that stands up to the sugar, while a wheated bourbon such as Maker’s Mark is softer. Cask-strength bourbon works if you add more crushed ice.

Mistakes and how to fix them

• Muddling the mint to a pulp. Press and lift; do not twist or shred.
• Granulated sugar straight from the bag. It will not dissolve in cold liquid; use syrup.
• Too little ice. A half-filled cup warms and dilutes unevenly.

Variations with real names

• Kentucky Colonel — a Mint Julep with a splash of dark rum floated on top and a burnt-orange peel.
• Georgia Mint Julep — brandy and peach brandy in place of bourbon.

Serving it well

Serve a Julep outdoors, in the shade, on a warm afternoon, or hand it to guests as they arrive. It goes with salty and smoky food: country ham, fried chicken, smoked almonds, pimento cheese, barbecue.

Mint Julep FAQ

Does a Mint Julep have lime or lemon in it?

No. A proper Julep is bourbon, sugar, water, mint and crushed ice. Any citrus belongs to a different drink and changes the balance of the whole cup.

Why does my Mint Julep taste bitter?

The mint was muddled too hard, which releases chlorophyll and tannins from the leaves. Press gently, discard bruised stems, and stir rather than crush.