The 10 Best Bourbons for a Mint Julep 

Ah, Mister Bond. Sit down, please. A mint julep? Traditional, but satisfying.

The words of Goldfinger ring around your head whenever you think of the Mint Julep and rightly so. It’s a classy, strong, flavourful drink befitting of men like James Bond and Goldfinger.

It’s a simple cocktail with only 3 ingredients: mint leaves, simple syrup, and, of course, bourbon, all built over tightly packed crushed ice. 

It’s clear then, that the choice of bourbon will have a huge impact on the taste of this drink.

You’re going to want something pretty strong, so as not to be diluted when the ice melts on a hot summer afternoon but don’t worry, you can still make a brilliant Mint Julep with some cheaper whiskey, you just need to find the right one.

It can be tricky getting it right for a Mint Julep and nailing that authentic Kentucky Derby taste can feel like capturing lightning in a bottle, but this list will have you covered with bourbons of all prices so you can get that refreshing mint taste regardless of budget.

If that sounds good to you, then let’s hop right in!

The Best Bourbon for Mint Juleps: The Top 10 Options

1. Elijah Craig Small Batch 

It’s a Bourbon Inspector favorite and for good reason. It’s relatively affordable, easily available, and brilliant on the taste buds.

If we could pick one bourbon that captures the essence of Kentucky, it’d be this one.

Make your drink with this and your mind will instantly be transported to a world of bright seersucker trousers, outlandish hats, and the pounding hooves of the horses that define the Kentucky Derby and the Mint Julep.

It complements the drink perfectly. Readily available, and for comfortably under $50, the Elijah Craig small batch is the best bourbon for a Mint Julep.

Sure, you could go for a bottle that costs three figures, but then the purists would be on your back for diluting such a premium whiskey, and you wouldn’t get enough of a difference in a Mint Julep to justify the price.

If you’re making the Julep at home, get the Elijah Craig Small Batch and thank us later. 

2. Four Roses 

On the cheaper side of the Elijah Craig Small Batch we have Four Roses Bourbon.

The fresh fruit and apple notes complement the mint perfectly, making this one of the best bourbons for a Mint Julep.

Another easily available choice, whether you’re going to a department store or ordering online, the Four Roses Bourbon is a great pick for the everyday home mixologist looking for a versatile, affordable, but still quality bourbon to pack with crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs.

Four Roses describe their finish as ‘Mellow, long and pleasant and you can feel that as the taste of your Mint Julep just holds in your mouth for a little longer.

A great all-around pick, and one of the best bourbons for a Mint Julep if you don’t know where to start. 

3. Jack Daniels 

We all know why this one has made the list: it’s what most people think of when someone says whiskey.

It’s super easily available, reasonably priced, and a lot of people will already have it around the house somewhere, to begin with. That said, it still makes a cracking Mint Julep and it’s definitely not one to turn your nose up at.

I don’t have to go on for hours about the taste of this familiar classic, but it’s worth pointing out quite how well the smooth, creamy palate of this bourbon balances with the mint and sugar syrup.

You might be tempted to overlook Jack Daniels as a great bourbon for a Mint Julep, but really, don’t.

It’s a fantastic all-around choice and while it might not have the most complex palate or the biggest punch, it’ll make a great cocktail fitting for a good day out at the Kentucky Derby. 

4. Jim Beam 

Understandably, not everyone is going to be splashing out on some top-shelf bourbon so we’ve included Jim Beam as a sensible, budget option.

With the Mint Julep having so few ingredients and getting its taste almost entirely from the bourbon used, it’s important that even if you go cheap, you don’t go nasty.

The spice in the Jim Beam is balanced out by the mint and sugar in the Julep leaving you with a nice, balanced drink that hasn’t broken the bank. The citrus and pepper finish is going to leave a real freshness on your tongue long after you’ve swallowed.

If you can afford to spend a bit more, a more premium bourbon will make you a nicer drink, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a good bit of Jim Beam in your Mint Julep!

5. Woodford Reserve 

A heavier bourbon than others on this list, the Woodford Reserve is going to make more of a contrast in your Mint Julep than most.

The winter spices and oak notes in the palate of this whiskey will be balanced out by the freshness of the mint sprigs, opening up a whole new world of flavors in your Mint Julep that you probably haven’t even thought of yet.

At just under $40 a bottle, it isn’t the dearest but it’s also not a bottom-shelf budget bourbon. Maybe not available at every supermarket, Woodford Reserve is nonetheless easily available online from big stores such as Master of Malt.

If you’re looking for a heavier twist on your standard Mint Julep, get yourself a bottle of Woodford Reserve and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. 

6. Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey 

Let’s throw in a twist. No, the Mint Julep is traditionally not made with flavored whiskey. However, it is made with sugar syrup and so getting a bit of a sweeter bourbon isn’t going to do any harm at all.

It’ll make a lovely little riff on this cocktail to keep it fresh and exciting, even though it’s a timeless classic.

If you don’t want the sweetness to be too bombarding, half the amount of sugar syrup you’re using in your Julep. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then carry on as normal, and let’s go!

Readily available and priced like any good, mid-shelf bourbon, the Tennessee Honey is a great bourbon for Mint Juleps, even if it is a touch unconventional.

If you love the Kentucky Derby, but you’ve always found Mint Juleps a little too much for your delicate palate, you simply have to give this a go. Game changer. 

7. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

This one is definitely a luxury buy but, wow, is it worth it!

The roughly 110 proof gives your cocktail a proper punch and stops the crushed ice from diluting those strong flavors too much on a hot summer’s day.

All this comes together to make the Maker’s Mark Cask Strength one of the best bourbons for a Mint Julep.

It does come in at around $70, so it’s not cheap but Maker’s Mark is a heavyweight of Kentucky bourbons for a reason: the quality is top-notch. Apple, cinnamon, and custard notes will help compliment the sugary sweetness of the cocktail, without taking away from that signature Kentucky kick.

If your goal is to create the best Mint Julep possible, you can do a lot worse than a bottle of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. 

8. Knob Creek 100 Proof

Another one from the Jim Beam distillery, but this time coming in stronger and pricier, the Knob Creek 100 Proof is still more affordable than the Maker’s Mark (at around $40 a bottle), but still strong enough to keep that strength and punch in your Mint Julep.

A fairly sweet bourbon, with notes of caramel, candyfloss, and even hints of vanilla on the palate of this bourbon, the sweetness of the classic Mint Julep is going to be brought to the fore by this bourbon, bringing the iconic taste of the Kentucky Derby right to your kitchen.

Easy enough to get online, reasonably priced, and packing a sweet kick, the Knob Creek 100 Proof is a brilliant, middle-of-the-road, all-rounder; one of the best bourbons for a Mint Julep. 

9. Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Straight Rye

A slight departure from the bourbon-heavy list we’ve got going on here, the Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond will give your Mint Julep a totally different sort of taste.

Although still hailing from Kentucky, the rye whiskey will give your Julep a nice change of pace from the usual bourbon to which we’re all accustomed.

That extra, aggressive punch of spice that we expect from rye is in full force with the Rittenhouse and will give a great juxtaposition to the minty fresh, sweet palate of the Julep, like teaching an old dog new tricks.

Is it traditional? No. Is it conventional? No. Are the fashion choices so famously associated with the Kentucky Derby traditional? Of course not, so why not mix your Julep up and try something new with a strong, 100-proof rye that’ll resist dilution perfectly under the heat?

10. Yellowstone Select Bourbon

Finally, rounding off our list with a classic choice of bourbon, one of the best bourbons for a Mint Julep we dare say, it’s the Yellowstone Select.

A slightly spicy tone comes with the palate of this whiskey, which will be tamed nicely by the mint of the Julep, along with heavy vanilla fudge notes to compliment the sweet, sugary cocktail.

At just over $60 a bottle, it’s not cheap but it’s not hard to come by either, being easily available online. You’re paying for a premium product and that’s what you’re getting with the Yellowstone Select.

There’s even a little hint of rye in this whiskey if you’re looking for a nice middle ground between something like the Elijah Craig Small Batch and the Rittenhouse.

Strong flavored, punchy, and above all premium, the Yellowstone Select Bourbon makes a great addition to your whiskey collection and an even better Mint Julep!

These Are the Best Whiskeys for a Mint Julep 

So there we go, we’ve got the best whiskeys for a Mint Julep.

All sorts of options are available here from the bottom-of-the-range Jim Beam, the all-rounder Four Roses, the luxury Maker’s Mark, and the JD Honey and Rittenhouse Rye for something different.

But for the best pick, you can’t overlook the Elijah Craig Small Batch. It’s the perfect middle ground between quality, price, availability, and flavor. 

So now you’ve experimented with a few different whiskeys and you’ve nailed the Mint Julep. Tastes exactly the same, no, better than the drinks you can get at the Kentucky Derby.

What next? Well, click here to read our Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned post.

Why stop at one classic bourbon cocktail when you can master another timeless drink that’s bound to impress friends and dates alike?