The Mint Julep may well be redolent of hot summer days spent lazily sipping cool drinks on the veranda of a white-painted homestead in Georgia, but it goes down pretty easily at a relaxed drinks party with friends at any time of the year - anywhere in the world! Bourbon isn’t for everyone – so try switching up its flavour partners or substituting it for another spirit base to get everyone on board the julep cocktail train.
Peach Julep
A southern-state summertime classic, this juicy julep is sweet, fruity and refreshing.
You can easily make up a jug for a party by dicing a ripe peach and muddling it with
a heap of mint leaves plus two or three tablespoons of sugar, before adding 350ml of
bourbon and the juice of a lemon. Fill the jug with ice and give it a good stir before
straining into ice-filled highball glasses.
Rum Julep
When juleps first migrated to America, they were likely made with other spirits. This
cocktail gives a nod to the julep’s early history by swapping bourbon for dark or aged
rum. Muddle mint leaves with the rum, orange bitters and a demerara-based sugar
syrup. Add a generous measure of dark rum together with ice and stir till super-cold.
Strain into an ice-filled cup or glass and garnish with mint.
Berry Julep
Adding berries to your julep softens the bourbon and adds welcome tart-sweet notes
to the classic base. Any soft fruit or berry will work – but you can’t go wrong with
blackberry, strawberry or raspberry. In each case, muddle your chosen berries with
mint and sugar before adding the bourbon and ice. Strain well to filter out seeds and
hulls and serve in a metal julep cup, if you have one.
Gin Julep
Swapping the bourbon for gin delivers a lighter, more botanical variation of this
classic cocktail. You can simply sub in the gin or tweak the aromatics, too, to create
a slightly different flavour profile. For instance, adding a splash of lemon juice and a
measure of elderflower liqueur gives strong Brit-summer vibes. Consider adding
fresh herbs like basil or thyme alongside the mint for a Mediterranean twist.
Tequila Julep
Swap out the bourbon for reposado (aged) tequila and you’ll unlock a smoky-earthy
flavour profile that’s a revelation! This Mexican-inspired julep variant is best made
with agave syrup in place of sugar and muddled with mint leaves and a splash of
lime juice.
