The Best Mint Julep Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the best whiskey for a mint julep? ›

And while the Old Forester Mint Julep – a sweet mix of bourbon, fresh mint, sugar, and crushed ice served in a collectible Kentucky Derby glass – is still the drink of the day, it's been joined by three refreshing options for you to enjoy wherever you're watching the races.

Overall, the most common mint for juleps is spearmint, which harmonizes nicely with both the sugar and the bourbon. In a bow to tradition and the Derby, one variety of spearmint, with especially large leaves, was named 'Kentucky Colonel', however, any spearmint will work well in the drink.

In recent years, a traditional mint julep has cost $11 at Churchill Downs, but if you really have money to throw around and you want to splurge, you can get a special mint julep that costs $1,000. Why do these mint juleps cost $1,000?

Bourbon on top of the ice, on top of the mint simple syrup. My Julep bourbons of choice: Bulleit, Jack Daniels (which isn't bourbon, but whiskey), Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, and Knob Creek.

For generations, Louisville insiders have enjoyed mint juleps made with Louisville's Hometown Bourbon™ – Old Forester. In honor of that grand tradition, we created the Old Forester Mint Julep, named the Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby.

Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby® honors “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of the 2024 commemorative Derby bottle.

CNN reported that a mint julep costs $15 during the Kentucky Derby. People who buy them at Churchill Downs also get to take home a souvenir glass.

Perfect for Derby Day or any other warm day, this cool and refreshing mint julep recipe is made with crushed ice, an easy simple syrup, Kentucky bourbon and fresh mint. This iconic Kentucky co*cktail is just what you need this summer!

In a mint julep cup or rocks glass, gently muddle the mint, bitters and syrup. Add crushed ice and Jim Beam® Orange. Stir to combine topping with more ice as needed.

Why are mint juleps so expensive? ›

The $1,000 mint juleps are sold in specially crafted cups that feature red rubies in the shape of a horseshoe. Only 148 cups were made. Of them, 18 gold-plated ones cost $2,500 while 130 silver ones cost $1,000.

During the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2022, special limited edition versions of the co*cktail featuring gold and silver julep cups were sold for upwards of $2,500 as part of The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep charity program.

For 12 years running, Kentucky bourbon manufacturer Woodford Reserve has sponsored a program that sells luxury mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby. And they're far more expensive than the co*cktails you can purchase at the track for over $10 a pop. Starting at $1,000, you can purchase a “Noble Cup" mint julep.

2023 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep co*cktail Recipe

2023 Kentucky Derby $3,500 Mint Julep Gold Cup. The mint julep recipe features Woodford Reserve Bourbon and handmade chestnut liqueur, which honors Secretariat's chestnut coat, as well as mint and Virginia bluebell flowers to celebrate the state where Secretariat was born.

Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby® honors “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of the 2024 commemorative Derby bottle. This year's special release features the artwork of Kentucky native Wylie Caudill, known for his bold, repetitive patterns, and his signature roses.

Woodford Reserve has been the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” since 1999 and the presenting sponsor for the past four years. The renewed partnership between Woodford and Churchill Downs will continue through 2027.

For those of you who want to maximize the whiskey ginger's complex flavors, rye whiskey is the way -- but not just any old rye will do. Two rye whiskeys come to mind. High West Double Rye! is a wonderful product coming out of Park City, Utah.

Most of the whiskey was rotgut in the early mining camps but towns like Virginia City and Tombstone could also import the finest whiskies and wines. The rotgut whiskey wasn't aged and had an extremely high alcohol content with high fusel oil, using grain and corn of dubious quality or molasses as a fermentation base.