Kentucky Derby Mini Mint Julep (Printable)

Crisp mint and citrus blend with ginger ale for a refreshing mini julep twist.

# What You'll Need:

→ Mint Syrup

01 - 1/2 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed

→ Mocktail Assembly

04 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 2 cups crushed ice
06 - 2 cups chilled ginger ale, gluten-free
07 - Fresh mint sprigs for garnish
08 - Lemon slices for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add mint leaves and simmer for 1 minute; remove from heat. Let steep for 10 minutes, then strain and cool completely.
02 - In a pitcher, combine the cooled mint syrup and lemon juice. Stir well.
03 - Divide crushed ice among 6 mini julep cups or small glasses.
04 - Pour the mint syrup-lemon mixture over the ice, filling each glass halfway.
05 - Top with chilled ginger ale, stirring gently to combine.
06 - Garnish each mocktail with a fresh mint sprig and a lemon slice. Serve immediately with short straws.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like a fancy Southern tradition but comes together in under 10 minutes with zero fuss or intimidation.
  • The homemade mint syrup is the secret that makes store-bought versions look lazy by comparison.
  • You get to serve something that feels like a real celebration, whether it's Derby Day or just a reason to use those cute small glasses gathering dust in your cabinet.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the syrup completely before mixing—warm syrup will melt your ice too fast and dilute the drink into sadness.
  • Mint can turn bitter if steeped too long, so stick to that 10-minute window and resist the urge to let it sit longer just because you want more flavor.
03 -
  • Bruise your mint gently with the side of a knife before adding it to the syrup—this wakes up the oils without shredding the leaves into cloudy bits.
  • Keep your ginger ale in the coldest part of the refrigerator until the moment you open it; the colder and more carbonated it is, the better the final drink tastes and feels.
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