Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Mocktail (Printable Version)

Cool Southern mocktail with fresh mint, sparkling water, and citrus—perfect for warm days and festive occasions.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Mint Syrup

01 - 1/4 cup water
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Mocktail Assembly

04 - 1 cup crushed ice
05 - 1 cup cold sparkling water or club soda
06 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 2 tablespoons mint syrup (prepared above)
08 - Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Combine water and granulated sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add mint leaves, and steep for 5 minutes. Strain and allow syrup to cool completely.
02 - Distribute crushed ice evenly into two julep cups or serving glasses.
03 - Pour 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of mint syrup over the ice into each glass.
04 - Top each glass with 1/2 cup cold sparkling water or club soda. Stir gently to incorporate flavors.
05 - Garnish each drink generously with fresh mint sprigs. Serve immediately with a straw.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It feels like a stylish treat without any booze, so everyone gets to join in the fun.
  • The cool mint and citrus combo is practically a portable summer breeze.
02 -
  • If you forget to strain the mint leaves, the syrup turns murky and bits float everywhere.
  • Chilling the syrup before mixing makes the mocktail spectacularly crisp and refreshing.
03 -
  • Pick mint with large leaves—they extract flavor better than small ones.
  • Swirl the drink gently; aggressive stirring kills the bubbles.
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