The mint julep earned its place as a Southern classic long before it became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. A cool and refreshing drink built for hot weather, this non-alcoholic version has all of that without the bourbon.
Back when I was deep in my cocktail era, a mint julep was always somewhere in my rotation. It captivated me so much, the crushed ice, the fresh mint, the whole experience of it. So when I started cutting back on alcohol and leaning into dry January (and then somehow just... kept going), it was one of the first drinks I knew I had to remake.
Honestly, I only meant to do dry January once. I was just starting my drink blog and thought, hey, two birds, one stone, film some content, skip the hangover. But somewhere in the middle of all that, I found so much joy in recreating my favorites without the alcohol that I barely drink anymore. This one made the cut easily, right alongside the classic virgin mojito and the amaretto sour mocktail that also became staples pretty quickly.
Now it's summer, friends are calling, pool meetups are happening, and this is absolutely one I'm bringing to the party. It's frosty, clean, and just sweet enough, the kind of drink that gets better the slower you sip it, even with a little melt in the glass. And if you're putting together a spread, the mocktail mimosa pairs really well with it.
It's the perfect intro mocktail, familiar, easy to love, and honestly a little impressive to hand someone.
Ingredients
You'll want plenty of fresh mint for this one since it does most of work. The non-alcoholic bourbon adds those oak and caramel notes you'd get from a classic mint julep, but it's completely optional if you want to keep it fully alcohol-free. Sprite handles the sweetness and fizz so you don't need much else.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Top Tips for Virgin Mint Julep
Use fresh mint, not tired mint: Fresh, fragrant mint gives the drink its clean cooling flavor, while wilted mint can make it taste flat or grassy.
Adjust the sweetness around the Sprite: Since Sprite already adds sweetness, use the simple syrup to balance the lime and mint instead of making the drink overly sugary.
Serve it right after building: A virgin mint julep tastes best while the crushed ice is still fluffy, the glass is frosty, and the soda is still bubbly.
How to Make Virgin Mint Julep?
This non-alcoholic mint julep is crisp, minty, and served over plenty of crushed ice for the classic julep experience. The non-alcoholic bourbon gives it the familiar flavor of the original, but it's just as satisfying without it.
Muddle the mint
Add the mint leaves, simple syrup, and lime juice to a julep cup or rocks glass, then muddle gently for about 30 seconds.
- Press lightly to release the mint oils without shredding the leaves.
- The mint should smell fragrant, but the leaves should not look crushed into tiny pieces.
Add the ice and non-alcoholic bourbon
Fill the glass halfway with crushed ice, then pour in the non-alcoholic bourbon if using and stir vigorously for about 15 seconds.
- Crushed ice chills the drink faster and gives it the julep-style texture.
- If you are skipping the non-alcoholic bourbon, stir the mint, lime, and syrup with the ice before adding Sprite.
Finish the drink
Add more crushed ice until the glass is full, then top with Sprite and stir gently once or twice.
- Pour the Sprite slowly so it keeps its bubbles.
Garnish and serve
Clap the mint sprig between your hands, then garnish with the mint and a lime wheel.
From Mocktail to Cocktail
To turn this virgin mint julep into a classic cocktail, simply replace the 2 ounces of non-alcoholic bourbon with 2 ounces of bourbon whiskey. Everything else in the recipe stays the same. Muddle the mint with the simple syrup and lime juice, stir in the bourbon with the crushed ice, then top with Sprite and garnish as directed.
If you prefer a stronger, more traditional mint julep, you can reduce or omit the Sprite and use a splash of chilled water instead, letting the bourbon and fresh mint take the spotlight.
A mint julep is traditionally made with bourbon and served over crushed ice, while a mojito uses rum, lime, and sparkling soda. A julep has a richer, smoother flavor with mint taking center stage.
No. It adds the familiar oak and caramel notes of a traditional mint julep, but the drink is still refreshing with just the mint, lime, Sprite, and crushed ice.
Yes, but wait to add the Sprite and crushed ice until serving. This keeps the drink bubbly and prevents it from becoming watered down.
Yes. Sparkling water creates a less sweet version. You may want to add a little more simple syrup to balance the lime and mint.
Yes. Traditional mint juleps don't usually include lime, so you can leave it out for a flavor that's closer to the classic version.
Spearmint is the traditional choice because it has a naturally sweet, cooling flavor that pairs well with bourbon-style drinks.
Yes, but the flavor will be different. Fresh mint gives the drink its bright, cooling aroma, while mint syrup adds sweetness and a smoother mint flavor. If using mint syrup, reduce or skip the simple syrup to keep the drink balanced.
Virgin Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 12-15 fresh mint leaves
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 oz non-alcoholic bourbon or omit for fully alcohol-free
- 4 oz Sprite
- Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Add the mint leaves, simple syrup, and lime juice to a julep cup or rocks glass.
- Muddle for about 30 seconds, until the mint is bruised and fragrant.
- Fill the glass halfway with crushed ice. Add the non-alcoholic bourbon, if using, and stir vigorously for 15 seconds.
- Add more crushed ice, mounding it slightly above the rim.
- Top with Sprite.
- Slap the mint sprig between your hands to release the oils.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel. Serve with a straw.
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