
In addition to being the preferred drink for spectators watching 3-year-old thoroughbreds race around a track, the Mint Julep has a history that’s both long and distinguished. However, the classic Mint Julep is more than a novelty drink imbibed one weekend each year during the Triple Crown’s first leg. Spoiler Alert – these are the only four required ingredients. That’s a lot of bourbon, fresh mint, sugar and crushed ice. Typically served in a silver cup and requiring just four ingredients including ice, the Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby with nearly 120,000 people sipping Mint Juleps at Churchill Downs each May. It’s also a classic bourbon cocktail that’s as easy to craft as it is to drink. What Is A Classic Mint Julep? The Mint Julep is more than the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. In other words, the classic Mint Julep has jumped to the top of our lazy mixology summer rotation. After a lightbulb moment involving Amazon Spain, our problem was solved.Īnd guess what? We’re obsessed with the smashed bourbon cocktail that’s one of the easiest, tastiest and most refreshing sippers we’ve ever crafted at home. The issue was that we couldn’t find Mint Julep cups in our Lisbon, Portugal home city and not for lack of trying. After itching to craft Mint Juleps for months, we finally accomplished our goal. We blame this association on fuzzy memories involving sorority girls wearing big floppy hats and sipping Mint Juleps at a New Orleans bar on the first Saturday in May years ago.įast forward to the present. Increase sweetener to your preference.Until recently, we associated Mint Juleps with three things – the Kentucky Derby, southern belles and bonnets. If you don’t like sweet drinks, start with just 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.If you don’t want to make the simple syrup, you can instead add about 1/3 teaspoon of the liquid monkfruit and about 2 tablespoons of water to the mint, then muddle.The crushed ice melts quickly, chilling the glass and softening the alcohol taste. Crushed ice is ideal for the Mint Julep because it’s not shaken.You can use sparkling water if you want to add some fizz. Because there are so few ingredients, the splash of water is important to mellow out the bourbon.Classic Mint Julep Cups are usually silver- they get very cold and chill quickly, but if you don’t have any, it’s not a problem. Nope! This keto cocktail works well in Old Fashioned Glasses or Highball Cups. For dessert, serve Keto Brownie Pie, Lemon Cookies or Cheesecake Strawberries! Do you have to serve this in Mint Julep cups? Southern food is famous for its flavor for a reason! Serve up some classic Southern dishes with a keto twist, like these Keto Shrimp and Grits, Sausage and Spinach Quiche or this Keto Fried Chicken. Add your crushed ice to your glass, add your bourbon and a splash of water. Muddle, or lightly mash the leaves, for about 30 seconds. In a cocktail glass, add your mint leaves and simple syrup. If you prefer things to be a little less sweet, or if you’re using a different brand, I recommend starting at 1/2 a tablespoon per one cup of water and adjusting as needed. One tablespoon per one cup of water is all that’s needed. Monkfruit is very sweet, much sweetener than sugar, so you need a very small amount. Take your Liquid Monkfruit and mix with water.
#Best recipe for a mint julep how to#
This Southern cocktail is incredibly delicious, as well as being very refreshing! How to make a Mint Julepįirst, you’ll need to prepare your keto simple syrup.
#Best recipe for a mint julep free#
Make a batch for your Derby party and be ready for everyone to be shocked when you tell them the cocktail has no net carbs! Trust me, this sugar free drink will quickly become one of your favorites!Ī Mint Julep is a blend of bourbon (which is a type of whisky), mint leaves, water, simple syrup and crushed ice. Try my Keto Margarita or Keto Lemon Drop for more great ideas on how to use this low carb simple syrup!Įnjoy a Keto Mint Julep on the porch, during brunches, barbecues, parties, weddings, or the event it’s most famous for- the Kentucky Derby! This Southern cocktail staple is known for being a huge hit at the races- with over 100,000 sold at the event itself! Made with a keto simple syrup, this drink comes out to ZERO net carbs!I used Liquid Monkfruit to replace the sugar, so you lose the carbs but none of the flavor.



Serve over crushed ice for the best summer cocktail or nightcap with zero guilt! This Keto Mint Julep is the PERFECT keto cocktail! This classic drink is a delicious blend of bourbon, refreshing mint and a superb simple syrup. This Keto Mint Julep uses a sugar-free simple syrup, fresh mint, and a classic Kentucky bourbon for a refreshing cocktail… ZERO net carbs!
