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A blackberry mint julep in a silver cup on a serving tray with purple cloth and berries surrounding the drink.
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Blackberry Mint Julep

Make your Kentucky Derby party extra memorable with this fresh blackberry mint julep! Mixed with freshly muddled mint leaves and a double dose of blackberries, you'll adore the refreshing and fruity spin on this favorite bourbon cocktail. And, of course, don't feel like you just have to save this drink for Derby Day — this classic cocktail is perfect for sipping on the patio all through the spring and summer months.
Course Beverages
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Steeping Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 1 drink
Calories 184kcal

Equipment

  • Julep cup
  • Muddler
  • Jigger or small measuring cup
  • Bar spoon
  • Straw

Ingredients

Blackberry Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup blackberries

Blackberry Mint Julep

  • ¼ cup blackberries
  • ½ ounce blackberry simple syrup
  • 8-10 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • Crushed ice not cubed ice
  • Fresh mint sprig

Instructions

Blackberry Simple Syrup

  • Combine the white sugar, water and blackberries in a small saucepan. Over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer and then a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
  • Once the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves, turn off the heat. Use a potato masher or fork to break down the blackberries. Let the mixture steep for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour.
  • Place a bowl or measuring cup under a fine-mesh sieve or strainer. Strain the blackberries from the liquid and discard the solids. The liquid is your simple syrup. Allow to cool and then store in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator.

Blackberry Mint Julep

  • Add the blackberries and blackberry simple syrup to the julep cup. Muddle to break down the berries. Once the berries break down, add the mint leaves and lightly muddle a few times. Don't overwork the mint, or it can turn bitter — just a few twists will do.
  • Pour in the bourbon and add enough crushed ice to fill the glass halfway. Using a bar spoon, stir until the outside of the julep cup builds condensation, about 15-20 seconds. Completely fill the cup with more ice and use your hands to form a mound on top of the cup.
  • Place the mint sprig in the palm of one hand and quickly clap over it with the other hand and place it on the side of the ice mound. This releases the mint’s fragrance to make for an even more delightful drinking experience. Serve with a straw to more easily sip through all the ice. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • The syrup will last two to three weeks if stored properly. When it turns cloudy, it's time for a new batch.
  • You can use fresh or frozen blackberries for both the syrup and drink. For the syrup, you don't need to thaw the blackberries, but you'll want to thaw them for the drink.
  • For parties, you can buy a big bag of crushed ice from Sonic.
  • The standard mint julep recipe uses 2 ounces bourbon and ½ ounce simple syrup, but if you prefer a sweet drink, you can increase the simple syrup to 1 ounce.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 417IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg