Gentle muddle, build, churn, and top
Mojito
Fresh mint, lime, rum, and a tall sparkling finish.
Press mint lightly, pack with crushed ice, and churn
Mint Julep
A Kentucky classic that rewards gentle mint handling and a short churn until the glass turns frosty.
Edited by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 5 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Approx. ABV
- 22% · Medium-high
- Tradition
- American
- Profile
- Sweet · Herbal
Ingredient totals
Ingredients
Amounts below make one drink. The method, Quick Check, and guided Make use these one-glass amounts.
2 ozBourbonRecommended brandWild Turkey 101
0.33 ozSimple syrupRecipe specification1:1 white sugar to water, by weight
Stir 100 g white sugar with 100 g warm water until no crystals remain, then cool before measuring into the drink. Use a scale: equal cups of sugar and water give a different concentration. A richer 2:1 syrup or a concentrated bottled cane syrup needs a smaller measure, not an equal-volume swap; check the bottle’s specification.
8 leavesMint leavesRecommended brandNorth Shore Living Mint
1 sprigMint sprigOptionalRecommended brandNorth Shore Living Mint
Measured method · one drink
How to make Mint Julep
These steps make one glass. For more drinks, use the ingredient totals above to set up, then repeat this method for each serving.
- 01
Wake the mint
8 mint leaves · ⅓ oz syrup · 3 presses
Gently press 8 mint leaves with ⅓ oz simple syrup 3 times; bruise the mint without shredding it.
Wake the mint visual check - 02
Pack with crushed ice
Crushed ice · fill halfway
Pack the glass halfway with crushed ice, leaving room for the bourbon and churn.
Pack with crushed ice visual check - 03
Add the bourbon
2 oz bourbon
Pour 2 oz bourbon slowly over the packed crushed ice.
Add the bourbon visual check - 04
Churn until frosty
Churn · 12 sec
Churn from the bottom for 12 seconds until the glass turns frosty.
Churn until frosty visual check - 05
Crown with crushed ice
Crushed ice · mound above rim
Add fresh crushed ice until it forms a compact mound just above the rim.
Crown with crushed ice visual check - 06
Crown with mint
1 mint sprig
Tuck 1 fresh mint sprig securely into the crushed-ice crown beside the rim.
Crown with mint visual check
Gently press 8 mint leaves with ⅓ oz simple syrup 3 times; bruise the mint without shredding it.
AI-assisted illustration of one step. Follow the measured method above; sound is optional.Key move
Stop stirring only when the glass is very cold and the mint remains intact
Technique note
Why this build works
The Julep uses mint aroma and crushed-ice dilution around a full bourbon pour, without citrus or soda. Pressing mint in syrup releases its aroma before the ice makes access difficult. Churning from the base distributes the syrup while the ice chills the whiskey. The final ice mound replaces what settled during mixing and holds the garnish near the nose. Glass frosting depends on the vessel and room conditions, so it is not a reliable timer by itself.
Common failure points
- The Julep contains shredded mint and tastes grassy.
- Press the leaves lightly until fragrant and keep stems out of the muddling stage. The mint sprig on top supplies extra aroma without needing to crush more leaves.
- The first sip is hot bourbon but the bottom is sweet.
- Churn from the bottom through the ice so the syrup joins the whiskey. Taste for coldness and integration before adding the final ice crown.
Measure or substitute
A rocks glass works in place of a metal julep cup, though it may not visibly frost. The ⅓-ounce syrup measure assumes 1:1 simple syrup by weight; use less of our 2:1 demerara syrup or dilute it first, and expect a darker sugar flavor.
Recipe references
These references describe the drink or its ingredients. Our measured build and teaching notes are CocktailSteps adaptations; proportions and methods may differ from the reference.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
MuddlerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Bad Ass Muddler
Bar spoonRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon
Rocks glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Rocks Glass
Choose your bottle
Bottle buying guide
Best fit is our default. Spend less with Smart buy, or choose Upgrade when you want more character.
Bourbon
Know the pour
Medium-high
Bourbon remains prominent while crushed ice supplies the drink's dilution.
Contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
