Sweet Tea Mint Julep Cocktail

Just when you didn't think it was possible to make a mint julep any better, this sweet tea mint julep cocktail blends the best flavors of The South in one fell sip! Let me teach you how to make your own at home in just five minutes with five easy ingredients.

And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my lavender mint julep, too!

Black History of the Julep Cocktail

The "hail-storm" julep is a classic southern cocktail created by famous formerly enslaved horse jockey and restauranteur, John Dabney, in the 1800s. Originally made with brandy, cognac or Caribbean rum, the popularity of bourbon juleps came a little later.

Julep drinks are close cousins to smash drinks, where the mint is muddled with sugar, initially sugar loaf pieces or sugar cubes and in current times, usually a sugar syrup like we're using here today.

See my favorite smash cocktails: the cherry gin smash with elderflower, watermelon smash with whiskey, and bourbon cherry limeade which are all just perfect for summertime sipping. There's also my super popular blood orange bourbon smash or bourbon berry smash--both made with champagne!

Quick & Easy - The mint julep is simple to make and beautiful in its simplicity. And this sweet tea twist is just as easy with no additional steps or fancy techniques required!

True Southern Taste - One sip and you'll pick up on the true sweet tea flavor that perfectly complements the oaky, caramel, and vanilla notes of Kentucky bourbon and cooling refreshment of mint.

Sweet tea cocktails are kind of a big deal around here. Like my sweet tea old fashioned and sweet tea margarita as well as the sweet tea martini made with gin or the sweet tea mojito!

Bourbon Whiskey is the signature spirit of the mint julep as we know it, though you could technically use your favorite brown liquor and it will still be great. Use a good quality bourbon you would enjoy sipping neat because we aren't diluting this drink with lots of mixers.

Sweet Tea Syrup takes the place of a sugar cube or sugar syrup in this recipe to add the same sweetness plus sweet tea taste. Use my homemade sweet tea concentrate for the best results!

Fresh Mint adds flavor and aroma that are critical to the drink. Use whichever variety of mint you like, such as peppermint or spearmint.

Crushed Ice or cobbled ice or pebbled ice keeps this drink nice and cold and provides full presentation points. And I have more notes on the proper way to present this drink below.

Pro Tip #1: If you don't have a crushed ice maker, swing by Sonic for a cup of theirs! It's the perfect texture and exactly what I use when making mint juleps at home.

How to Make a Sweet Tea Julep

Step One: Muddle the mint and black tea syrup together to express the mint oils and meld the flavors.

Step Two: Add in bourbon and ice and stir until chilled.

Pro Tip #2: In place of a muddler, you can use the end of a kitchen spoon, a shot glass in place of a jigger and teaspoon or butter knife in place of a bar spoon.

Pro Tip #3: You'll know the drink is well chilled when the julep cup is frosted on the outside!

How to Serve

A silver julep cup is the proper vessel for a julep drink and a nod to John Dabney's horseback riding days. This cup not only looks cool, it keeps the drink very cold. Form meet function!

Traditionally, the drink is packed with lots of crushed ice into a dome shape then garnished with bouquet of fresh mint and small fruits like berries. A silver drinking straw is a common addition to be able to consume the cocktail neatly without spilling--though the dome of ice typically melts together into one big piece.

So I recommend serving this drink in a julep cup piled high with pebbled ice and a generous sprig of fresh mint plus a twist of lemon to play on the flavor of tea. Think of it as a snow cone with alcohol!