Kentucky Derby Mini Mint Julep (Printable version)

Crisp, sweet mini mint juleps with fresh mint, lemon, and apple juice—ideal for festive springtime sips.

# Ingredient list:

→ Mint Syrup

01 - 1/2 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Mocktail Assembly

04 - 2 cups crushed ice
05 - 1 1/2 cups cold sparkling water or club soda
06 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 1/2 cup unsweetened or lightly sweetened apple juice
08 - Lemon slices for garnish

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat, add mint leaves, and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Strain through fine mesh and cool completely before use.
02 - Fill mini julep cups or small glasses with 1/3 cup crushed ice. Add 1 tablespoon of cooled mint syrup to each glass.
03 - Pour 1/4 cup sparkling water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon apple juice into each prepared glass. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
04 - Garnish each mocktail with fresh mint sprigs and lemon slices. Serve immediately with straws.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer in a glass without a drop of alcohol, so everyone at your table gets to toast together.
  • The mint syrup is your secret weapon—once you make it, you'll find yourself adding it to lemonades and iced teas all season long.
  • These come together in 10 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling your mint syrup—warm syrup melts ice too quickly and waters down the drink, which I learned the hard way when I tried to speed up the process at a party.
  • The ratio of syrup to other liquids is crucial; too much makes it cloying, too little and you lose that mint flavor that makes people close their eyes and smile.
03 -
  • Bruise your mint slightly by slapping it between your palms before adding it to the syrup—this releases more of those aromatic oils and deepens the flavor without making the drink taste like toothpaste.
  • Chill your glasses in the freezer for five minutes before assembling if you want them to stay cold longer and look extra polished, which makes people feel celebrated even if it's just a Tuesday afternoon.
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