Brewgrass Julep (Cheap, Cold, and Reliable)
A no-nonsense Mint Julep built for brutal Kentucky heat, long afternoons, and the beautiful madness of Kentucky Derby season.
Ingredients
- 2 oz high-rye bourbon
- Recommended: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 100 Proof
- Fresh mint sprig
- 1/2 oz mint simple syrup (cheap & easy recipe below)
- Crushed ice (a lot of it)
- Optional: stainless steel straw
Mint Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- Confectioner's sugar or corn sugar
- 1 cup water
- ~6 fresh mint leaves per cup of syrup
Simple Syrup Instructions
- Combine sugar and cold limestone water (jk, but works great if you have it!) in a jar or container.
- Add mint leaves.
- Shake until dissolved.
- Add a little ice and let the mint gently infuse for about an hour, shaking periodically.
- Avoid aggressively muddling the mint — you want fresh aromatics, not bitter vegetal flavors.
Instructions
1. Prep the Glass
Take a fresh mint sprig and gently rub it around the inside and rim of a tall glass.
Do not muddle the mint.
You’re just coating the glass with mint oils.
2. Add Crushed Ice
Fill the glass about halfway with crushed ice.
The drink is about coldness as much as flavor — don’t be shy with the ice.
3. Pour the Bourbon
Add:
- 2 oz bourbon
If you’re planning on drinking a few throughout the day, you can go slightly lighter.
4. Add Mint Syrup
Pour in:
- 1/2 oz mint simple syrup
Adjust sweeter or drier to taste.
5. Stir Until Frost Forms
Using a spoon, stir aggressively until the outside of the glass begins to frost over.
The goal is maximum chill and dilution.
6. Top with More Ice
Pile crushed ice on top.
Think of it as pre-industrial Kentucky air conditioning.
7. Garnish
Lightly slap the mint sprig to wake up the aromatics.
Place it in the glass.
8. Drink Properly
Use a straw if possible so you hit the coldest part of the drink first.
Especially good with a metal straw that stays ice cold.
Final Philosophy
This is not a delicate craft cocktail.
This is a working-class Kentucky survival mechanism disguised as Southern aristocracy.
Fast. Cold. Bourbon-heavy. Slightly dangerous. Exactly how a proper Mint Julep should be.