Refreshing Mint Cocktails, From Mojitos to Southsides

Kentucky Derby festivities are great but there's more to minty concoctions than race's official cocktail, the mint julep. Whether you are searching for festive Derby alternative or a refreshing summertime tipple, we've rounded up the best mint cocktails that are fantastic alternatives to the drink of choice at Churchill Downs as well as some fun twists on the julep itself. From mouthwatering mojitos to satisfying southsides, here are tasty recipes for a delicious mint cocktail.

Ingredients

1.5 oz. lime juice (squeezed fresh)
1 tsp finely granulated sugar
3 mint leaves
2 oz white rum
Club soda or seltzer

Instructions

Muddle the lime juice with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sugar and mint leaves. Fill the glass about 2/3 with ice and add rum. Garnish with used lime and and top off with club soda or seltzer.

More: Mojito Recipes That Put a Spin on the Refreshing Classic

Ingredients:

1 oz green crème de menthe
1 oz white crème de cacao
.25 oz Branca Menta
1.5 oz heavy cream

Instructions

Shake and double strain, serve in a Nick & Nora glass with grated Valrhona chocolate for garnish.

Shop Now Branca Menta, $30.54

Recipe courtesy of Naren Young at Dante in New York City.

Ingredients

1.25 oz Tanqueray no. ten
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz simple syrup
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Fresh sprig of mint

Instructions

Muddle fresh mint leaves in simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add Tanqueray and lime juice. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass over ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprig.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Johnnie Walker Black
4.5 oz coconut soda
Ice cubes made from coconut water
Lime wheels
Mint sprigs

Instructions

Place coconut water ice cubes in a soda glass. Add 2-3 lime wheels in the glass. Pour in Johnnie Walker Black and top with coconut soda. Garnish with mint and lime.

Recipe courtesy of Daniel Guillen.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint
1 lemon wedge, squeezed and juiced
3 oz Health-Ade Pink Lady Apple Kombucha

Instructions

Add the vodka and lemon juice to a chilled glass with ice. Top with the Kombucha and garnish with an apple slice and lemon twist.

Ingredients

1 oz Hendricks gin
.75 oz lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup
Handful of mint leaves
Seltzer (to top)

Instructions

Muddle cucumber and mint. Add Hendricks, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake. Strain into a highball glass and top with seltzer. Garnish with slices of mint leaves and cucumber.

Recipe courtesy of Yaliza Burgos at LeGrande at the Time New York.

Ingredients

2 oz RumHaven
1 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz simple syrup
1 oz club soda
6-8 mint leaves

Instructions

Add all ingredients except club soda into an ice-filled shaker and shake together to muddle. Uncap shaker and add club soda. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Garnish with mint or lime.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Singleton 12 year single malt scotch
.75 oz lime juice
.5 oz simple syrup
3 slices of cucumber
3 to 4 mint leaves

Instructions

Add all ingredients into a shaker, gently muddle the cucumber and mint. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with cucumber and mint.

Ingredients

1 oz Don Julio Blanco tequila
4 oz unsweetened cashew milk
2-3 sprigs of fresh mint
1 tsp matcha tea powder
.75 oz organic raw honey

Instructions

Add matcha and 2 oz of the cashew milk to a cocktail shaker. Whisk until the powder has been well incorporated into the milk. Add the tequila, remaining cashew milk, mint sprigs, honey, and ice. Shake well and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Garnish with fresh mint.

Recipe courtesy of Mixologist Ben Scorah.

Ingredients

1 oz Mr Black
1 oz bourbon
.25 oz simple syrup
6-8 mint leaves

Instructions

Add Mr Black, syrup, and mint into a julep cup, or any metal or copper cup, muddle lightly to express mint oils. Add bourbon and lots of crushed or shaved ice, garnish with mint sprigs and a straw.

By Stephen Kurpinsky

Ingredients

1 small cucumber, cut into thin rounds
1 (2 inch) knob ginger, peeled and cut into thin slices
4 sprigs mint
2 lime wedges
2 oz Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka
6 oz sparkling water

Instructions

In a large glass add the cucumber, ginger, 2 mint sprigs, lime, and vodka and muddle together until all the essential oils are released. Strain into a new glass filled with ice. Finish with sparkling water and garnish with 2 sprigs of mint and any additional cucumbers or limes.

Shop Now Cucumber & Mint Botanical Vodka, Ketel One, $17.99

Ingredients

2 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
10-15 mint leaves

Instructions

Slap the mint and set it inside the bottom of a rocks glass or julep cup. Add the Grand Mariner and gently muddle. Top with crushed ice to the top of the cup or glass until it forms a cone. Garnish with a bouquet of fresh mint

Ingredients

2 oz Casamigos Blanco Tequila
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup
8-10 mint leaves
Top off with lemonade

Instructions

Combine all ingredients, except lemonade into tin shaker. Muddle mint, add ice and shake vigorously, then fine strain into collins glass. Add fresh ice, top off with lemonade and garnish.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Buchanan's Deluxe 12-year old scotch
1 oz pear juice
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
1 bunch of mint leaves

Instructions

Muddle mint sprigs with simple syrup and lemon juice. Add Buchanan's deluxe scotch and pour into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and a pear slice.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Ketel One vodka
5 leaves of apple mint
.5 oz snap pea reduction*
.5 oz lemon juice
Splash of soda water
Small handful of microgreens

Instructions

Tear apple mint leaves and place into mason jar. Add all ingredients except the soda water. Add ice and cap the jar. Shake vigorously. Open the top and add a splash of soda water. Garnish with microgreens and serve from mason jar.

*Snap pea reduction: Juice or blend equal parts snap peas with water and then fine strain.