Kentucky Derby Mint Julep (Print Version)

A fresh Southern mint julep with citrus and sparkling water, ideal for warm weather and celebrations.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat, add mint leaves, and steep for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - Fill two julep cups or tall glasses with 1 cup crushed ice each, distributing evenly.
03 - Pour 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon cooled mint syrup over the ice in each glass.
04 - Top each glass with 1/2 cup sparkling water or club soda. Stir gently with a bar spoon to integrate flavors without crushing ice.
05 - Garnish generously with fresh mint sprigs. Serve immediately with straws while beverage is well-chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Mint syrup made fresh tastes nothing like the bottled stuff—it's bright, alive, and tastes like you actually care.
  • This drink comes together in ten minutes and somehow feels like you spent all day making it.
  • It's vegan, gluten-free, and so refreshing that even people who don't usually drink mocktails ask for a second glass.
02 -
  • Brewing the mint too long turns the syrup bitter and grassy—five minutes is genuinely the sweet spot, not a suggestion.
  • Room-temperature mint syrup poured over ice dilutes everything immediately; cold syrup changes the entire texture and flavor of the final drink.
03 -
  • If mint leaves are delicate, don't muddle them hard—you'll bruise the leaves and release tannins that make everything bitter.
  • Sparkling water goes flat fast, so add it last and serve immediately for maximum fizz and freshness.
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