Disney-Inspired Mint Julep Cocktail for Sipping in the Sunshine!
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A refreshing Disney-inspired Mint Julep Cocktail is the perfect cooling drink this summer! This easy recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is perfect for parties or gatherings. The combination of bourbon, mint, and sugar makes for a deliciously sweet and flavorful cocktail. Cheers!
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Mint Julep Cocktail
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions and ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required and understand the steps and timings involved.
Mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern United States in general, and the Kentucky Derby in particular. Traditionally, mint juleps were often served in silver or pewter cups, and held only by the bottom and top edges of the cup. This allows frost to form on the outside of the cup.
Wikipedia
The Mint Julep at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World are non-alcoholic beverages, and I will be providing the non-alcoholic (virgin) mocktail version at the end of this post.
However, we are Disney adults and love to sip on a few cocktails when visiting Walt Disney World, so we’ve put the booze back into our Southern cocktail!
So grab some Bourbon, Crème de Menthe, and the rest of the ingredients, and get mixing!
Ingredients Used In This Cocktail
For your convenience, I’ve linked any specialized ingredients needed for this recipe to Amazon below.
- Simple Syrup – you can easily make your own simple syrup. You place equal measures of sugar and water in a pan and stir over medium heat. By the time it starts to simmer, the sugar is dissolved, and that’s it! When the syrup has cooled use in cocktails as required. Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.
- Frozen Lemonade Concentrate – this is not a product we have in the UK, so please check out the notes section of the recipe for the alternative.
- Club Soda
- Bourbon – use your preferred brand
- Crème de Menthe – a bright green mint flavored liqueur
- Fresh Mint Leaves – for garnish
- Maraschino Cherries – for garnish
- Lemon or Lime Slices – for garnish
More Sumer Cocktails To Make
Want to make more summertime cocktails? I think you’re going to love these ones:
- Disney’s Jungle Cruise Cocktail with Rum, Tequila, and Fruit Juices
- Cuban Rum and Peach Cocktail – A Delicious Tropical Summer Beverage
- Watermelon Moscato Slushie Cocktail – Perfect for Sunny Summer Days!
- Hawaiian Margarita Cocktail
- Spiked Fresh Watermelon Cocktail: Watermelon Breeze
Mint Julep Variations
I like to try and give variations on the cocktails shared on The Purple Pumpkin Blog, like how to turn the cocktail into a mocktail so that non-drinkers (and kids if suitable) can enjoy the drink too!
Virgin Mint Julep Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy a Mint Julep we simply remove the alcohol and replace it! Follow the recipe card instructions with these non-alcoholic ingredients:
- 3 oz Simple Syrup
- 12 oz Frozen Lemonade Concentrate
- 8 oz Club Soda
- 4 oz Mint (Crème de Menthe) Syrup
I love the Monin brand of syrups as there are lots of flavors and they are a very versatile ingredient that can be used in cocktails, mocktails, coffee, cocoa, shakes, smoothies, and more.
I haven’t made the mocktail version, so I recommend adding the syrups to taste as they may add a sweetness that you may not necessarily get from alcoholic liqueurs.
Frozen Mint Julep
Want to turn this lemon-mint beverage into a frozen slushie? Easy! Put all the ingredients in a blender with a generous amount of crushed ice – then blend till smooth. Serve with a straw, and watch out for brain freeze! You could do the same with the mocktail version too.
Fruit & Mint Julep Ideas
Here are some ideas for switching up the flavors in your Mint Julep cocktails! Just remove the amount of frozen lemonade concentrate and replace as follows:
- Puréed watermelon or watermelon juice, and garnish with a wedge of watermelon.
- Crushed blackberries and raspberries (sieve to remove seeds), and garnish with fresh berries.
- Puréed strawberries, and garnish with a whole strawberry.
- Peach and/or apricot nectar, and garnish with fruit slices.
- Orange juice or grapefruit juice, and garnish with citrus slices.
- Cranberry juice and garnish with a candy cane for a festive twist!
Mint Juleps For a Crowd!
Want to make a big batch of this cocktail for a party or gathering? It’s so easy!
As long as you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.,) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct and you can make as much as you need to.
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers, or pitchers, or go really retro and serve from a punch bowl! Whichever container best suits your event (and the drink!).
Make sure you add plenty of ice to your serving receptacle of choice to keep the cocktail chilled. Add mint leaves and cocktail cherries in there too.
Why not skewer a few cherries and mint leaves onto cocktail picks for guests to garnish their drink?
When setting up your bar serving area, included cocktail glasses, small napkins, a filled ice bucket, stirrers, and themed cocktail decorations if suitable!
To make a big batch of Mint Julep, mix together the following ingredients as on the recipe card:
- 3 parts Simple Syrup
- 12 parts Frozen Lemonade Concentrate, thawed
- 8 parts Club Soda
- 6 parts Bourbon
- 6 parts Crème de Menthe
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make A Mint Julep?
Check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Mint Julep Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3 oz Simple Syrup
- 12 oz Frozen Lemonade Concentrate, thawed*
- 8 oz Club Soda
- 6 oz Bourbon
- 6 oz Crème de Menthe
- Ice
For Garnish
- Fresh Mint Leaves
- Maraschino Cherries
- Lemon or Lime Slices
Instructions
- Place the syrup, lemonade, club soda, Bourbon, and Crème de Menthe into a large pitcher and stir to combine.
- Pour into four ice-filled glasses, and garnish with mint leaves as well as cherries and/or citrus slices.
Notes
*If you are in the UK, replace the frozen lemonade concentrate (12 oz) and club soda (8 oz) with 20 oz of cloudy lemonade (carbonated) or a 50/50 mix of still lemonade and soda water.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 373Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 1g
This site uses Nutritionix to provide estimated nutrition. Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Meal!
The beverage is covered, but what about other dishes to make this recipe into a full meal? Here are my suggestions!
- Appetizer: Cucumber Smoked Salmon Appetizers Ready in Just 20 Minutes!
- Soup: Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup Recipe
- Salad: Roasted Fennel and Grapefruit Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
- Main Dish: 25-Minute Orange-Glazed Salmon Recipe with Asparagus
- Side Dish: Tri-Color Roasted Rosemary Potatoes Recipe – A Quick Side Dish
- Dessert: Delicious & Easy Lemon Hand Pies
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy! Please feel free to check them out too.