This easy mint julep recipe comes with a little Kentucky Derby history—and one of my favorite childhood memories.

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From the time I was born, my parents attended an annual Kentucky Derby party hosted by our neighbors, Kay and Frank. By the time I was four or five, I was going too.

I remember a house full of loud adults, plenty of good food and a pool based on the horses running in the Derby. Most of all, I remember the shiny julep cups sitting on Derby napkins, each one garnished with a sprig of fresh mint.

Apparently, I misunderstood the name of the event and called it the “Dirty Party.” The name stuck, and that is what my family called it for years.

Grandma Kay’s Mint Juleps

Kay’s mint juleps were legendary.

She eventually shared her recipe with my mother, and years later, my mother passed it along to me. Like many treasured family recipes, the instructions weren’t especially precise. There were no carefully measured ounces or complicated bartending techniques—just a simple mint syrup, bourbon, crushed ice and fresh mint.

The original recipe didn’t specify an exact ratio of syrup to bourbon, so consider this a starting point. You can easily add another splash of syrup if you prefer a sweeter drink.

Easy Mint Julep Recipe

Ingredients

For the mint syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 or 5 sprigs of spearmint
• ¼ teaspoon spearmint extract

For each mint julep:

• Crushed ice
• 1 shot bourbon
• ¼ shot mint syrup, plus more to taste
• Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Instructions

1. Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.
3. Stir in the mint extract, add mint sprigs and remove the saucepan from the heat.
4. Allow the mint syrup to cool completely. Once cool, remove the mint sprigs from the simple syrup.
5. Fill a julep cup or glass with crushed ice.
6. Add one shot of bourbon and approximately ¼ shot of the cooled mint syrup. Stir well.
7. Taste and add another splash of mint syrup if you prefer a sweeter julep.
8. Garnish generously with fresh mint and serve immediately.

A Note About the Measurements

You can use the same shot glass to measure both the bourbon and the syrup. The important part is the ratio: approximately one full shot of bourbon to one-fourth shot of mint syrup.

If you prefer a lighter drink, use half a shot of bourbon and a small splash of syrup. Grandma Kay’s recipe leaves plenty of room to make it your own.

Store any leftover mint syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

What Is a Julep Cup?

A traditional julep cup is a small silver or pewter cup designed to become beautifully frosted when it is filled with crushed ice.

You certainly don’t need a special cup to enjoy a mint julep, but julep cups make the drink feel particularly festive—especially for a Kentucky Derby party. They can also be used as small vases or pretty additions to a bar cart when Derby Day is over. Also, check out these REALLY cute napkins with the jockey silks — they’re so fun!

Whether you serve yours in a traditional silver cup or your favorite cocktail glass, don’t forget the fresh mint. The generous mint garnish is part of what makes a mint julep look—and smell—like the classic Derby drink I remember from Grandma Kay’s “Dirty Parties.”