Kentucky Derby Mini Mint Julep (Printable)

A crisp mix of mint syrup, citrus, and ginger ale served in small glasses for refreshing enjoyment.

# What You 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 heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves completely. Add mint leaves and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain through fine mesh and allow to cool completely.
02 - Pour the cooled mint syrup into a pitcher and add freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well to combine thoroughly.
03 - Divide crushed ice evenly among 6 mini julep cups or small glasses.
04 - Pour the mint syrup and lemon juice mixture over the ice in each glass, filling to approximately halfway.
05 - Top each glass with chilled ginger ale, gently stirring to combine all ingredients.
06 - Garnish each mocktail with a fresh mint sprig and lemon slice. Serve immediately with short straws.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everyone at the table gets to celebrate together, from the littlest cousins to great-grandma who's watching her sugar intake.
  • The homemade mint syrup tastes like something you'd pay real money for at a fancy restaurant, but costs pennies and takes barely ten minutes.
02 -
  • The mint syrup must be completely cool before you pour it over ice—I learned this the hard way when I tried to rush and ended up with a watery drink that tasted like melted slush.
  • Fresh lemon juice makes an enormous difference here; bottled juice tastes flat and chemical by comparison, and since you only need a quarter cup, there's no real excuse not to squeeze it fresh.
03 -
  • Chill your ginger ale and serving glasses in the freezer for at least thirty minutes before assembling—this small step means your drink stays perfectly cold from the first sip to the last.
  • If you don't have a fine mesh strainer, pour the syrup through cheesecloth or a coffee filter to catch every bit of mint sediment and keep your drink crystal clear and elegant.
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