Sweet Tea Mint Julep

Serves: 8

Hands On Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 0 minutes

Ingredients

6 cups water

1 cup sugar

10 mint leaves

3 family-size black tea bags or 12 individual black tea bags

1 1/2 cups bourbon

Crushed ice

Lemon slices

Mint sprigs

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of the water to a boil with the sugar. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the mint leaves and tea bags, dunking the tea bags in and out of the water a few times to ensure they are fully saturated. Steep for 5 minutes.

Discard the mint and tea bags, then stir in the remaining 2 cups cold water. Refrigerate until chilled.

Stir in the bourbon, pour the mixture into highball glasses filled with ice, garnish with lemon and mint, and serve.

About the recipe

Enjoy this delightful marriage of two of the South’s signature drinks: sweet tea and the mint julep.

While traditional mint juleps can be too intense for some palates, adding sweet tea to the equation ensures a smoother experience, all while preserving the signature aromatics of bourbon and mint. This drink is a natural fit for any rip-roaring Kentucky Derby party or 1920s speakeasy-themed soiree. Just follow the recipe and whip up a batch for your next front porch hangout.