Name: Blackberry Mint Julep
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 oz Bourbon; 5 fresh blackberries; 6 mint leaves; ½ ounce simple syrup or 2 sugar cubes; Crushed ice; Garnish with a sprig of mint and blackberries!

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On a classic Derby Day, you can’t miss Blackberry Mint Julep in your hand at this great event!

The original Mint Julep recipe is a classic cocktail for the Kentucky Derby, an exclusive event to wait for a whole year, full of emotions, events, tours, food, and many cocktails, most of them made with local bourbon.

What is Blackberry Mint Julep?

A mint julep is a cocktail made from a mix of Bourbon, Mint leaves, and Sugar. This time we give the original recipe a fruity spin by adding fresh Blackberries, which is simple and classic.

When it’s derby season this cocktail is one of the most popular cocktails, for 3 simple reasons:

1.- Bourbon is made in Kentucky

2.- it’s refreshing

3.- it’s easy for bartenders to prepare, so it’s perfect for betting on the horses

Ingredients For Blackberry Mint Julep

Bourbon- a Kentucky derby cocktail needs a Kentucky bourbon! For this, I used Maker´s Marks.

Fresh Blackberries-you can use frozen but fresh tastes better!

Fresh mint-This gives the cocktail freshness and a fresh aroma, ideal for a hot day.

Sugar or Simple Syrup-In my experience as a mixologist, simple sugar dissolves much faster and adds more to the other ingredients of the cocktail!

Crushed Ice-keeps our cocktail colder for a longer time!

For Garnish a mint sprig and blackberries.

(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

How to Make Blackberry Mint Julep?

For the Derby, the preparation of this recipe must be easy and simple due to the number of people waiting to taste this iconic cocktail.

Is super easy to prepare, so I will guide you step by step!

1.-Place the blackberries, mint leaves, sugar, or simple syrup into a julep cup, Collins glass, or old-fashioned glass.

2.-Muddle well to dissolve the blackberries and release the oil and aroma of the mint.

3.-Add the bourbon, fill the glass with crushed ice, and stir well until the glass becomes frosty.

4.-Garnish with a mint sprig and blackberries. Serve with a straw and enjoy!

Variation of a Blackberry Mint Julep

This cocktail is very popular for the Kentucky Derby!

Also, try the original Mint Julep recipe.

I will mention more variations that you can create to get different flavors of your choice!

Try this variation:

Tequila– Use Reposado tequila instead bourbon to enhance the flavor with the complexity of the agave!

Sparkling Wine – Finish it off with a bit of sparkling wine to give that bubbly touch to your palate.

Basil- add some fresh leaves of basil instead of mint and change the flavor!

Fruits- Use different types of fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, peaches, passion fruit, pear, pineapple, etc. give a fun touch to your mind julep!

When to serve Blackberry Mint Julep?

Blackberry Mint Julep, it´s refreshing for these hot days!

Try it as a:

Brunch with friends
At the beach
Pool Parties
On hot days
In a Kentucky Derby
In a Lunch with Family

Guide to Bourbons

The best bourbon whiskeys of 2023

Woodford Reserve-Today it is one of the highest quality bourbons in the world! It is kept for more than 6 years of maturation in American oak barrels, it is composed of rye, corn, and barley, it has a fruity flavor of caramel and vanilla with hints of cocoa, cinnamon, and citrus, it is creamy on the palate with a long finish.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon-This is a well-known and award-winning label in the United States! It is made with corn, rye, and malted barley matured from 7 to 12 years in American toasted oak barrels, it has a sweet flavor of caramel, mint, and candied fruit with smoky touches, and the finish on the palate is long and spicy!

Maker’s Mark-It has a unique soft red winter wheat characteristic that you don’t find in any other whisky. It is also made up of corn and malted barley, matured between 6 and 7 years with a plus of 150-year yeast that gives it a touch of quality, its flavor is sweet, caramelized with vanilla and fruity hints!

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier-This one has a higher concentration of rye, so its flavor is spicier and not sweet, its maturation is at least 2 years, and it has a spicy aroma and oak wood flavored with maple and nutmeg with a long finish.

Four Roses-It has a very good value for money, and, like Bulleit, it has a large concentration of rye. It is aged from 5 to 12 years in American toasted oak barrels, which gives it a flavor of pear, green apple, cinnamon, and subtle wood with Floral aroma, spicy, honey, fruit, and wood, it is smooth and easy to drink!

With this perspective, you can choose one of these bourbons or the one you like best to prepare Blackberry Mint Julep.

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Yield: 1