Peach Mint Julep
This Peach Mint Julep is bright, fresh, and fruity, with a fun kick of fresh ginger. Sweet peaches, earthy mint, and warmly spiced bourbon come together to create the perfect summer cocktail!
Easy Peach Cocktail with Ginger Simple Syrup
This Peach Mint Julep, like my Pineapple Mint Julep Sangria, is a twist on the popular mint julep cocktail. We’ve been enjoying this drink with the season’s best peaches for a few summers now, and I thought it was high time to share it with you!
This combination of bourbon + mint + peaches + ginger is definitely a winner! It’s bright and fresh and warm and cool all at the same time – and I love that little kick of fresh ginger!
If you have a sweet, juicy peach on hand, definitely give this bourbon cocktail a try. It’ll become your favorite late summer drink!
What is a Mint Julep?
A mint julep is a bourbon cocktail made with sugar and mint, served over crushed ice in a frosty pewter cup (affiliate link). These drinks are famously enjoyed at the Kentucky Derby, with Churchill Downs serving up almost 120,000 of the bourbon cocktails in just 2 days!
Note: I like to see what’s going on in my drink and prefer to use clear glass julep cups.
What’s the Difference Between a Mojito and Mint Julep?
Mojitos and mint juleps are very similar, as they are both made with lots of fresh mint. However, there are two big differences – first, a mint julep does not include the citrus juice of a mojito, and second, a mint julep is made with bourbon while a mojito is made with rum.
Key Ingredients
What’s in a mint julep? Just a few ingredients! And with this peach version, we add just a few more to give it a lovely peach and ginger twist.
- Water – Water is the base of the simple syrup.
- Granulated sugar – Sugar is dissolved in the water, the sweetener in the syrup.
- Ginger – Fresh ginger infuses the simple syrup, giving that delicious spicy bite to the sweetness.
- Fresh mint – Mint adds a fresh earthiness to the mint julep. Be sure to use the freshest bright green mint leaves, so they’re full of flavor and beautiful color.
- Peaches – Fresh peach slices give this julep its fabulous fruity flavor. Be sure to use really ripe, juicy peaches for the very best flavor!
- Fresh lemon juice – Lemon juice adds a touch of brightness and acidity to the julep.
- Bourbon – A mint julep traditionally includes bourbon, so that’s what we’re using here.
- Ginger beer – Ginger beer adds a more pronounced bite of ginger, plus fun effervescence to the julep.
How to Make a Peach Mint Julep
Be sure to make the ginger syrup in advance, so it has time to cool – it can even be made a day or two in advance, which is perfect for entertaining. Once that’s ready, this bourbon cocktail comes together in just a few minutes.
- Make the simple syrup. Bring the water, sugar, and ginger to a boil until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 1 hour. Remove the ginger and transfer the syrup to an airtight container (I like to use a canning jar and screw-on lid) for up to 10 days.
- Muddle the fresh ingredients. In a glass, muddle the mint, peach, simple syrup, and lemon juice until the peach and mint are broken up.
- Add the bourbon. Stir in the bourbon and finish with ginger beer.
- Serve. Add crushed ice to the glass, mounding it on top for the traditional mint julep look. Garnish with a big sprig of mint and a slice of peach, then enjoy!
Can I Turn This Into a Pitcher Cocktail?
Want to serve this peach cocktail to a crowd? No problem!
The ginger syrup portion of this recipe will give you enough syrup to make 6 cocktails. So here are the amounts you’ll need to create a pitcher of 6 drinks:
- 1 recipe ginger syrup
- 18 fresh peach slices
- 48 large fresh mint leaves (a great way to use up that sprawling mint in your herb garden!!)
- 3 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 9 ounces bourbon
- 24 ounces ginger beer
- 6 fresh mint sprigs
To make this pitcher of drinks, simply muddle the ginger syrup, 6 fresh peach slices, mint leaves, and lemon juice in a pitcher instead of individual glasses, then add the bourbon and ginger beer. If you’re not serving right away, wait to add the ginger beer until right before serving.
When ready to serve, pour into 6 individual glasses, then top with ice + fresh peach slices and mint sprigs for garnish.
Ideas for Leftover Ginger Syrup
This recipe will make more ginger syrup than you need for just one or two cocktails. Luckily, it will last in the fridge for up to 10 days, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy it!
Here are a few other ways you can use up the ginger syrup:
- In tea (iced or hot)
- In lemonade
- Make a mocktail by adding it to club soda along with fresh mint leaves + lime or lemon juice
- Drizzled over pancakes, waffles, etc
- Over yogurt
- On ice cream
- In a marinade
More Bourbon Cocktail Recipes:
- Sangria in Rose, Bourbon, and Blue
- Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme
- Pineapple Mint Julep Sangria
- Blood Orange Amaretto Sour
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Peach Mint Julep
Ingredients
For the Ginger Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger
For the Peach Mint Julep
- 8 large fresh mint leaves
- 3 ½” thick slices ripe, juicy fresh peach
- ¾ ounce ginger simple syrup
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Sprig of fresh mint and fresh peach slice for garnish
Instructions
For the Ginger Simple Syrup
- Add water, granulated sugar, and ginger to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil and cook until sugar has fully dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat and then muddle/crush the ginger to break it up and release its flavor. Set aside to steep for 1 hour.
- Remove and discard the muddled ginger. Transfer ginger syrup to an airtight container (I like to use a canning jar with a screw-on lid) and refrigerate for up to 10 days.
For the Peach Mint Julep
- Add mint, 2 peach slices, ginger simple syrup, and lemon juice to a glass (I’m using a julep-shaped glass but a lowball glass will work as well). Muddle until mint and peach are broken up well, about 20 seconds.
- Add bourbon and ginger beer, and give a quick stir to combine.
- Add crushed or pellet ice to the glass, mounding it on top for a traditional mint julep look if desired. Garnish with a big sprig of mint and remaining fresh peach slice. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Made this cocktail to use up some mint from our garden. It is SO good and I’m not a huge fan of bourbon. My bourbon loving husband absolutely loved it too, of course.