Blueberry Mint Julep- a fun and fruity twist on the classic southern cocktail. Perfect for summer or a Kentucky Derby party.
Bourbon Cocktail
The mint julep is a great summer cocktail. It is one of the sweeter bourbon cocktails and the mint gives it a refreshing summer taste. Adding fresh blueberries gives the cocktail extra flavor.
Type Of Bourbon To Use
There are so many great bourbons to use for Mint Juleps. I typically use Makers Mark but Woodford Reserve and Four Roses are great choices too.
Blueberry Mint Simple Syrup
The mint and blueberry flavored simple syrup can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. It gives the cocktails a wonderful blue/purple color and adds lots of blueberry flavor.
To make it you will combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan with one and a half cups fresh blueberries (either fresh or frozen) and 4 mint leaves. Mash down on the bluebrries and simmer for 5 minutes. Press through a fine-meshed sieve to get rid of the solids.
For each Mint Julep you’ll add a few mint leaves and about 2 ounces of blueberry syrup to a glass. Muddle them together so the mint extracts get released into the syrup. Add about 2 and a half ounces of bourbon and ice to fill the glass.
Add a few sugared blueberries, garnish with mint, and serve.
Sugared Blueberries
The sugared blueberries add a special touch to this bourbon cocktail and they are simple to make. Heat half a cup of sugar and half a cup of water in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is melted. Let mixture cool for 15 minutes. Add blueberries and let them sit in the sugar water for 15 minutes.
Remove blueberries from liquid and place on a paper towel. Let sit 1 hour and then sprinkle with some sugar. They will look so pretty!
Crushed Ice
Mint Juleps are typically made with crushed ise. You can throw some in your blender to make some or put ice in a large ziptop bag and pound with something heavy.
More Mint Julep Recipes
- Sweet Tea Mint Julep
- Blackberry Mint Juleps
- Watermelon Mint Julep
- Peach-Basil Juleps
- Mint Julep Jello Shots
Blueberry Mint Julep
Equipment
Ingredients
Blueberry Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups blueberries
- 4 mint leaves
Sugared Blueberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Mint Julep
- 10 ounces bourbon
- Mint leaves
Instructions
- To make blueberry syrup, place sugar, water, blueberries, and mint in a small to medium saucepan.Bring mixture to a simmer. Mash down on the blueberries with fork or a potato masher.Simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool.
- Set a fine-meshed strainer over a large liquid measuring cup or a bowl.Pour blueberry mixture into strainer. Press down on blueberries with the back of a spoon to get all the liquid out. Discard solids.Refrigerate blueberry syrup until needed.
- To make sugared blueberries, place water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Stir until sugar is melted.Remove from heat and let cool 15 minutes. Then place blueberries in the liquid and leave them for 15 minutes.
- Remove blueberries with as slotted spoon and palce on a paper towel. Let sit 1 hour and then sprinkle with sugar.
- For each mint julep, place 3 mint leaves in a glass. Add about 2 ounces of blueberry syrup and muddle the mint leaves and syrup together.
- Add about 2 1/2 ounces bourbon and then add ice to fill the glass.
- Garnish with mint leaves and sugared blueberries.
