Virgin Mint Julep
I made this recipe for the first time as part of a Kentucky Derby celebration. I was obsessed and drank these almost daily for weeks. These Virgin Mint Juleps are refreshing and honestly so simple to make.
This recipe uses a mint simple syrup to flavor a ginger ale or lemon lime soda. You can find mint in your grocery store as a live plant or in the refrigerated veggie section as prepicked leaves.
I did divide the simple syrup recipe from the rest of the mint julep recipe. Simple syrups are a delicious and simple way to make a liquid sweetener and can be stored in the fridge for up to a month. Simple syrups can be used for sweet tea, cocktails and mocktails with or without the mint addition. This recipe makes enough simple syrup you can either keep it on hand for when the craving for a fresh virgin mint julep hits or you can mix up an entire batch of these ahead of time, just skip the ice portion so the drink doesn't become watered down!
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 6 sprigs mint leaves
- ice
- Mint Simple Syrup
Combine water, sugar, and mint leaves in a saucepan
Boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves
Remove from heat and let simple syrup cool completely
- Pour simple syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove the mint leaves
- Pour 1/2 cup of giner ale into cup over ice
Add a 1/4 cup of mint simple syrup to cup
Gently stir and top drink with mint leaves to serve