This Virgin Mint Julep is a thirst-quenching, ice cold, fizzy drink! This is the perfect drink to make for the Kentucky Derby because it’s kid-friendly, and LOVED by adults too.

Looking for more non-alcoholic drinks? We have a virgin strawberry daiquiri and non alcoholic sangria that everyone loves too!

A virgin mint julep in a silver cup with a sprig of mint.

What is a Mint Julep?

A traditional Mint Julep is made with bourbon, a sugar syrup, and mint. I turned this alcoholic drink into a non-alcoholic drink so that everyone can enjoy it. And I’ve gotta say, this drink is SO good!! You won’t miss the alcohol.

Mint Juleps are served in a silver or pewter cup where a person should hold the drink at the base or the top of the cup. This allows the frost to form on the outside of the cup.

It is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, during which Church Hill Downs sells 120,000 mint juleps!

And a random/fun fact: May 30th is national Mint Julep day!

Ingredients

This drink is very simple and only requires 4 ingredients:

  • Water
  • Granulated sugar
  • Ginger Ale
  • Fresh mint leaves
A straight on photo of a mint julep in a silver cup.

How to make Mint Julep

  1. Make the mint syrup. Bring the water, sugar, and min leaves to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently. The sugar should be completely dissolved.
  2. Let the sugar syrup cool. You can speed up this process by placing the syrup in the refrigerator.
  3. Assemble the drinks. Fill cups with crushed ice and pour 1/2 cup of Ginger Ale into each glass, 1/4 cup of the mint simple syrup, then stir. Top the drinks with a sprig of fresh mint and serve!
A saucepan with sugar, water, and mint leaves.

FAQ and Tips

Use crushed ice. The finer the crushed ice the better. You want the drink to be slushy-like. As you can see, my crushed ice machine doesn’t crush the ice as fine as I’d like it to but it still turned out fantastic!

Can I use a different soft drink than Ginger Ale? Yes you can, but if you do so the taste will be different. Sprite and 7-Up for example have a stronger lemon and lime flavor to them so the mint simple syrup won’t shine through as much. Ginger Ale is the best option for making a Virgin Mint Julep.

What kind of mint should I use? Spearmint, or whatever your grocery store carries. 😊

How long does the simple syrup last? Store the mint simple syrup in the refrigerator, covered or in an airtight container, for 1 month.

Overhead photo of a virgin mint julep.

If you make any recipe from Salt & Baker please come back and leave a comment and review! I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

A virgin mint julep in a metal cup on a silver metal tray.
Overhead photo of a virgin mint julep.
Print Save Review
5 from 7 votes

Virgin Mint Julep

This refreshing drink is exactly what you need during the summer!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 cups Ginger Ale
  • 8 sprigs mint leaves - plus more for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan bring the water, sugar, and mint leaves to boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently. You want the sugar to be completely dissolved. 
  • Let the simple syrup cool completely. Pour the simple syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove the mint leaves. 
  • Fill cups with crushed ice and pour ½ cup of ginger ale into each cup, pour in ¼ cup of the mint simple syrup to each cup. Stir and top with additional mint sprigs if you’d like.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal (12%)Carbohydrates: 61g (20%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (5%)Sodium: 12mg (1%)Potassium: 6mgFiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 60g (67%)Vitamin A: 42IU (1%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 8mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review on the blog post letting me know how you liked this recipe! Take a picture and tag @saltandbaker on Tik Tok, Instagram, and Facebook so I can see what you’re making!