Ingredients

  • 2½ ozcognac(VSOP preferred)
  • 8 wholefresh mint leaves
  • ½ ozsimple syrup
  • 🍋Mint sprig(garnish)

🔧 Tools

julep cupmuddlerbar spoonjigger

Instructions

  1. Place mint leaves and simple syrup in a julep cup.
  2. Gently muddle the mint to release oils without shredding the leaves.
  3. Fill the cup halfway with crushed ice.
  4. Add the cognac and stir until the cup frosts on the outside.
  5. Top with more crushed ice to form a dome.
  6. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and insert a short straw.
  7. Serve immediately.

📜 History

Before the Civil War made French imports scarce in the American South, cognac was the preferred spirit for mint juleps. Jerry Thomas documented the cognac julep in his 1862 bartender guide. This original version offers a leathery, chocolaty richness that bourbon cannot replicate, making it a sophisticated alternative for Derby Day.

#julep#classic#cognac#mint#pre-prohibition