This easy lavender mint julep with a twist of floral flavor is the perfect cold drink for a hot southern summer day. Let me teach you how to make it in just five minutes with four easy ingredients!
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my Lavender Mimosa and Kentucky Mule with Bourbon!
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Do mint juleps always have bourbon?
Kentucky bourbon is commonly regarded as key to a classic mint julep, but the iconic southern drink was made popular by American restauranteur and formerly enslaved horse jockey, John Dabney, in the post Civil War American South...using brandy, cognac or Caribbean rum!
During the 1800s, John Dabney became known for his "hailstorm juleps" served out of giant silver cups and piled high with either shaved or crushed ice. The necessity of Kentucky bourbon that we know today is due to marketing.
Check out the classic Julep a la Dabney recipe from Sweet Tea & Thyme!
What kind of cocktail is a julep?
The julep originated as a medicinal drink and is closely related to the smash cocktail. The difference being that a smash requires muddled fruit. So, technically, a smash cocktail is also a julep but not the other way around!
Here are a few favorite smash cocktails:
❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - If you have five minutes, you can mix up a homemade mint julep with lavender syrup. And below, I've even included common kitchen tools you can use in place of bar tools, if needed!
Super Fresh Flavor - This is a classic mint julep so you'll get the refreshing taste of fresh muddled mint, a hint of sweetness, and the oaky, vanilla, and caramel notes of good bourbon whiskey. AND you'll taste sweet and calming floral notes.
The mint julep recipe tastes and smells so lovely, it will make you wish scratch-and-sniff screens were a thing. But it's not the only flavored julep cocktail on my roster--peep my sweet tea julep and hibiscus julep, next!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Your shopping list will be short and simple for this recipe. Here are the lavender mint julep ingredients:
Bourbon Whiskey is the star spirit in the modern mint julep cocktail. And there are no mixers so be sure to use a quality bourbon you would enjoy sipping neat.
Fresh Mint is a must. Do not substitute with dried mint, mint extract or anything else.
Lavender Simple Syrup takes the place of simple syrup or more traditionally, sugar cubes, to add not only sweetness but also another layer of herbal flavor. You can purchase ready-made lavender syrup or make honey lavender syrup at home with just three ingredients!
Cobbled Ice, crushed ice, or shaved ice is key to the perfect presentation of a mint julep.
Pro Tip #1: Buy the pebbled ice from Sonic for an easy shortcut.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Liquor - As I mentioned above, the American mint julep was made with either cognac, brandy or rum before bourbon juleps took over. So feel free to use different spirits or even expressions of whiskey like rye or straight whiskey, if you like.
How to Make a Mint Julep with Lavender
Step One: Muddle the mint leaves and lavender syrup together to express mint oils and combine the flavors. (First two photos)
Pro Tip #2: If you don't have bar tools, don't worry! A shot glass is a great replacement for a jigger. You can use the blunt end of a kitchen spoon in place of a muddler, and a butter knife (plus a gentle hand) works almost as well as a bar spoon.
Step Two: Add in bourbon and ice and stir until well chilled.
Step Three: Pack the cup with a dome of crushed ice and garnish as desired.
Pro Tip #3: You'll know the drink is properly chilled once the silver cup is frosty all over!
Frequently Asked Questions
The lavender mint julep drink is for everyone (of legal drinking age) for him, for her, for them! Don't let gender norms keep you from this deliciousness.
This iced bourbon cocktail will cool you off wonderfully on a hot day. And it's the perfect easy cocktail for Derby Day. Because of the fresh herbs, this is a great springtime bourbon drink but you can enjoy it whenever the weather is warm.
Serving the Julep Cocktail
The well-known silver julep cup is a nod to John Dabney and an absolute must for presentation points. I also recommend garnishing the drink with sprigs of fresh mint and lavender, which greet the nose with each sip! Add a silver straw, if you want.
More Favorite Drink Recipes with Mint
Now that you have the classic mint julep drink with lavender in hand, I hope you'll enjoy soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pint this mint julep with lavender syrup for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Easy Lavender Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 4 mint sprigs plus more for garnish
- ½ ounce lavender honey syrup or lavender simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- crushed ice
- dried lavender optional garnish
Instructions
- Add leaves from four mint sprigs and lavender simple syrup to a silver julep cup. Muddle gently to release the mint oils and combine the flavors.
- Pour in bourbon then fill the cup with ice.
- Stir until the cup is frosted (about 20 seconds).
- Pack cup with more ice to form a dome then garnish with more mint and lavender. Serve immediately and enjoy responsibly!
Notes
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Add one cup of honey, one cup of water, and ½ cup of dried lavender to a small saucepan over medium-high heat and stir until honey is dissolved.
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Bring the mixture to a boil then turn off heat. Allow to steep from at least 20 minutes (the longer the better) for the lavender flavor to infuse into the syrup.
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Strain out lavender flowers and store in an airtight container.
adriana says
These look SO GOOD! What a great summer entertaining drink - I have to try these out! Yum!
Rachel says
I guess I never realized this drink contained bourbon. I guess that makes sense for being the drink of the Kentucky derby.
Tiffany says
Yummy! And your dress is absolutely on point! <3
Sharon says
Wow this looks like a deliciously different take on a classic cocktail. The lavender syrup is a great addition!
Beth Eaton says
I am not a huge fan of mint but with the lavender it sounds amazing!