Kentucky Derby Mini Mint (Printable)

A refreshing blend of mint syrup, lemon juice, and ginger ale served chilled in mini glasses.

# What You'll Need:

→ Mint Syrup

01 - 1/2 cup water
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed

→ Mocktail Assembly

04 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 2 cups crushed ice
06 - 2 cups chilled ginger ale, gluten-free verified
07 - Fresh mint sprigs for garnish
08 - Lemon slices for garnish

# How to Cook:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar completely dissolves. Add mint leaves and simmer for 1 minute, then remove from heat. Allow to steep for 10 minutes before straining through fine mesh. Cool syrup completely to room temperature.
02 - Pour cooled mint syrup into a pitcher and add freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir thoroughly to combine.
03 - Divide crushed ice evenly among 6 mini julep cups or small glasses.
04 - Pour the mint syrup and lemon juice mixture over the ice in each glass, filling approximately halfway.
05 - Top each glass with chilled ginger ale and stir gently to combine all ingredients.
06 - Crown each mocktail with a fresh mint sprig and a lemon slice. Serve immediately with short straws.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like someone else did all the thinking, when really you're just combining a few smart ingredients.
  • Kids actually get excited about fancy drinks when they come in mini cups with proper garnish.
  • The mint syrup keeps for days, so you can throw these together whenever Southern weather hits.
02 -
  • If you let the mint steep longer than ten minutes, it starts to taste grassy and slightly bitter—I learned this the hard way with my first batch.
  • The ice matters more than you'd think; proper crushed ice won't water down the drink as quickly as regular cubes, keeping your mocktail balanced throughout.
03 -
  • Fresh mint releases its best flavor when you gently bruise it just before garnishing—cup a sprig in your palm and give it a soft squeeze to wake up the oils.
  • If your ginger ale has lost any fizz by the time you're serving, a splash of sparkling water mixed in will restore the brightness without diluting the flavor.
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