Keto Mint Julep – Low-Carb Cocktail Recipe
Well it's that time of year again! The Derby is tomorrow. It will be the first year as an adult that I'm not in the Kentucky area to enjoy the fun. I've made these keto mint juleps for years. I can't believe I never thought to post the recipe to the website until now. I should have gotten it up about a month ago…better late than never!
The mint julep is a traditional derby drink. It's served at every bar and derby party all over Kentucky and Ohio. I have no idea if other states celebrate the Kentucky Derby as much as those two. However, I do know that you can find a mint julep on menus in many southern bars.
What gives a mint julep its signature flavor is, of course, mint and the sweetness of simple syrup. If you're trying to make a keto mint julep, the most important ingredient change is the use of keto simple syrup instead of the traditional.
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The origin of the word julep is Spanish Arabic, according to Wikipedia. The term “julep” is used for a sweet drink that is used to disguise medicine. Think Mary Poppins here. Julep is derived from “julepe”, which translates to something like rosewater.
Keto Mint Julep
While there are slight variations, the basic recipe includes bourbon, mint, simple syrup and crushed ice. But since you're making this at home, feel free to jazz it up a bit! A popular addition in the Kentucky/Ohio area is the use of some seasonal fruit. Fortunately, most of these variations include keto-friendly fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and my favorite, blackberries. Simply muddle the berries add some extra flavor to this classic cocktail.
As for the mint, smack and press the mint to release the oils before placing the mint in your cup. Muddling the mint can cause it to be a little bitter. If you really want to go all out, make sure you grab some keto mint julep cups from Amazon.
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Keto Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 4 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce keto simple syrup
- 10 leaves mint, plus extra for garnish, if desired
- 4 whole blackberries, crushed, optional
Instructions
- If adding berries to your mint julep, muddle them in the bottom two mint julep or highball glasses.
- Smack and gently crush the mint in your hand to release the oils.
- Place 5 leaves of min in each of the glasses.
- Pour in the keto simple syrup and bourbon. Stir and taste for sweeteness adding more simple syrup if you'd like.
- Pour in the crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig if desired.
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Equipment
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