Mint Julep Mocktail

This Mint Julep Mocktail is a refreshing blend of mint, unsweetened iced tea, lemonade, and ginger ale served over crushed ice. It’s a crisp and cooling non-alcoholic twist on the Southern classic—perfect for warm days or Derby celebrations.

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Mint Julep Mocktail for your Kentucky Derby Party

The traditional mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky derby. Typically made out of sweet bourbon and served in a pewter cup filled with crushed ice this non-alcoholic version is perfect for everyone who doesn't drink alcohol as you cheer on the horse race!

Coming up with a mocktail version of a mint julep served itself difficult because bourbon is the base flavor of the drink along with mint. Bourbon itself can be such a complex spirit that I wanted to make sure the mocktail wasn't just lemonade mixed with mint. So I just kept adding flavors until I got one that I found was complex enough.

This mocktail starts with muddling mint, just like the classic version. Then we add a bit of unsweetened ice tea (you can totally use sweet tea for a sweeter version), lemonade, and ginger ale. The combo of these four ingredients over crushed ice is delicious and refreshing. Everyone celebrating with you is going to want one of these so make sure you prepare with extra ingredients!

And I have to note, don't save this drink just for once a year this is a great way to cool down on any hot day! It's such a refreshing drink it is perfect for a special occasion like a brunch or baby shower.

Ingredients

• Fresh Mint Leaves - Must be fresh! If you are having a large party you will want to make sure you have plenty of fresh mint.
• Unsweetened Iced Tea - I prefer my drinks not too sweet but if you like a sweet drink you can definitely use sweet iced tea instead.
• Lemonade - Classic lemonade, this will be the bulk of the drink. If you are making a small batch you can use my Single Serve Lemonade Recipe that uses fresh lemon juice, your own simple syrup, and cold water to make a tasty lemonade. 
• Ginger Ale - Ginger ale is perfect for creating flavor and effervescence in the drink.
• Crushed Ice - Crushing ice is a must for to help make the drink feel authentic. There is no super good way to crush the ice. I usually stick a bunch of ice in a zip top bag and use my rolling pin to crush it. Alternatively if you live somewhere where a restaurant sells pebble ice you could buy that and use that instead.

Instructions

Add the mint leaves to a pint glass. Gently muddle them with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release their essential oils and aroma. No need to tear the leaves—just a light press will do.

Fill the glass with crushed ice. The more, the merrier—it keeps your drink super cold and gives it that classic julep texture.

Add the unsweetened iced tea, lemonade, and ginger ale directly into the glass over the ice.

Give the drink a gentle stir to mix the flavors. Top with a fresh sprig of mint and enjoy immediately!