This simple summer staple will steal the show with a simple but fresh addition. An icy cold bourbon cocktail like this one needs no introduction on the hottest of summer days… A handful of bright, sweet blueberries kick loose with hefty splashes of bourbon and fresh mint in this super fresh blueberry mint julep recipe.

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I gotta be honest, the classic mint julep is sheer summery perfection in itself. It’s practically impossible to make it better. Fresh bruised mint and crushed ice need nothing more than a good bourbon to make everything delicious and complete.

However, for a fun berry-licious twist, I added a hint of fresh berry flavor by muddling in some fresh blueberries along with the mint. The result? An ice-cold refreshing minty julep with hints of fresh blueberry that mingle in and out as you sip.

I just love sneaking fresh berries into a good summer cocktail and this was a perfect excuse. If you’re diggin’ fresh berries right about now, you gotta check out this fresh blueberry rum smash cocktail too!

A Cooling Mint Julep Recipe For Kentucky Derby Day!

The berries don’t get in the way, they just complement everything else happening in the drink. If you wanna try this quick and easy fresh berry twist on the classic mint julep, then grab your muddler and a handful of fresh blueberries…but first, let’s grab some crushed ice!

if you don’t have crushed ice for your mint julep recipe…make it!

Wrap some ice cubes in a towel, twist, and crush with a meat tenderizer. It has a nice weight to it and I kinda find that it’s the perfect tool to easily crush ice cubes with a few good whacks. Poof! Now ya got freshly crushed ice! Set it in a little container and put it back in the freezer while you prepare the cocktail.

Muddle Fresh blueberries + fresh mint for your fresh mint julep cocktail

In a julep cup or rocks glass, drop in meant leaves and fresh blueberries. Now add a little simple syrup. Muddle everything down until mint is nicely bruised and berries are crushed.

Add good Quality Bourbon to make a smooth mint julep cocktail

Now splash in your favorite brand of nice quality bourbon. If you’re wondering what is the best bourbon for mint julep, I’d say to be sure and go with a nice quality Kentucky straight bourbon! I kept it easy and delicious with my personal fave, a little Four Roses Bourbon.

Add crushed ice and stir your bourbon cocktail

Now we chill everything up with the crushed ice we made earlier. Grab your container with ice and start adding it to your chilly mint julep cup.

Add in crushed to fill the cup most of way and stir until the julep cup becomes foggy all around the outside from the coldness of the drink.

If you’re looking for a great set of julep cups for your bourbon cocktails, check out this great set by Barfly! They come in a few different colors, but, as you can see in the photo, I’m sporting the classic stainless steel ones… They work seamlessly well to keep your crushed ice cocktails cold to the core! Your mint julep will be chilled, delicious, and refreshing, every time!

Garnish mint julep with fresh mint and berries

Now finish off by topping off the your super fresh with more fresh crushed ice and garnish with fresh sprigs of mint and a couple blueberries.

Enjoy this super refreshing fresh blueberry mint julep recipe when you crave a thirst-quenching minty cocktail that puts bourbon front and center. The piping hot days of summer just beckon icy cold sippers like this, so I hope you crush up that ice and sit with a few sips of this soon! It’s the original bourbon cooler!

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