This Mint Julep Cocktail Recipe is easy to make at home, with fresh mint, lemon juice, bourbon (or another whiskey), and sugar! No simple syrup needed!
6oz.bourbonor rye, or another whiskey (four shots)
1cupwhole ice cubesfor shaking
1cupcrushed icedivided, for serving
Instructions
Add the mint leaves whole (2 tablespoons), turbinado sugar (4 teaspoons), and lemon juice (scant 1 oz., or 1/2 shot) to the bottom of your cocktail shaker. Muddle them together until most of the sugar has dissolved and the mint leaves are thoroughly crushed.
Add the bourbon (6 oz, or 4 shots) to the cocktail shaker. Add the whole ice (about 1 cup) to the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
Divide the crushed ice into old-fashioned cocktail glasses, tumblers, or mason jars (about 1/2 cup in each glass.) Strain the cocktail mixture into the glasses over the ice and garnish with extra mint leaves. Cheers!
Notes
To make your own crushed ice, you can add whole ice cubes to a bag, cover with a towel, and use a rolling pin to hit the bag a few times until crushed to your liking. You can also add whole ice to a blender and pulse a few times.
If you don't have a cocktail shaker, use a large mason jar with a lid instead. When you are ready to shake, add the lid on top. You can strain it using a small mesh sieve, trying not to pour any ice cubes into the sieve so you can more easily strain the liquid. Or, just carefully hold a spoon on the edge of the jar to allow the liquid out when you pour and keep the solids in the jar.
If you don't have turbinado sugar, you can use brown sugar. I recommend using 3 teaspoons instead of 4. You can also use white sugar in a pinch, but it won't have as much flavor. For a refined sugar free version, I'd recommend 4-5 teaspoons maple syrup.