The julep is a classic style of drink. Lightly flavoured, served over ice and packed with minty freshness. It’s the ultimate summer serve. And like most popular cocktails, the julep has evolved over the years, giving rise to a fair few variations.

The original julep recipe dates back to the 18th century Middle East as a medicinal rose water drink that was said to help with stomach issues. It wasn’t until a hundred or so years later that it made its way into American culture, evolving to become the mint cocktail we know and love today.

During this time, it became famed as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby where over 120,000 mint juleps are served each year. If that doesn’t show off its popularity we don’t know what does.

Whilst the classic mint julep is clearly a worldwide favourite, its versatility and fresh ingredients have inspired lots of variations for all tastes. From fruity twists to citrus mixes, spirit swaps and added spices, there’s plenty of new ways to drink a julep.

Grab a muddler and some fresh mint as we share our most sipped serves inspired by the original recipe – here’s our top mint julep variations.

Our favourite way to mix up a julep is with a simple swap to scotch. Many classic recipes lean towards bourbon, but we think the warming, creamy smoothness of scotch is a much better match.

In our variation, we use The Glenlivet Captain Reserve for its luscious honey and spiced notes and raisin-rich sweet finish. The perfect match for the freshness of mint. But naturally we haven’t stopped there. 

Our recipe for Mint Julep with scotch also has the option for fresh red apple juice, green cardamom syrup and pear liqueur. Adding a warm, North African spice and fruity kick.

A close cousin to the julep, a Mint Smash cocktail is where things get extra fresh. As well as fresh mint leaves to garnish, this recipe uses chilled double strong mint tea for a super delicious flavour. 

Combine with freshly squeezed lime juice and honey syrup and you’ve got a cooling, zesty drink that’s made for summer BBQ sipping. Perfect for batch making to serve your party crowd.

A close cousin to the julep, a Mint Smash cocktail is where things get extra fresh. As well as fresh mint leaves to garnish, this recipe uses chilled double strong mint tea for a super delicious flavour. 

Combine with freshly squeezed lime juice and honey syrup and you’ve got a cooling, zesty drink that’s made for summer BBQ sipping. Perfect for batch making to serve your party crowd.

Blend the freshness of mint with the spice of ginger in a Whisky Mule, a drink that’s just as classic as the original julep. 

Our take on an Irish Mule uses The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, our smooth, creamy single malt whisky, to create a cocktail that’s both warming and refreshing. Fresh lime and spiced ginger beer add citrus notes and fizzy spice, served in a copper mule mug similarly to a julep.

If you love the cooling minty taste of a julep but want more whisky in your drink, then this cocktail will be next on your sipping list. It’s sweet, tangy and herbaceous. Guaranteed to go down a treat.

The Mint Old Fashioned is a unique take on the original Old Fashioned recipe, inspired by the fresh, sweet notes of a julep. A dash of maple syrup enhances the whisky’s caramel notes, whilst a twist of lemon and sprig of mint infuse the drink with a refreshing herby taste. It’s a seriously impressive serve to win host points with.

Take your julep to the tropics with this coconut whisky cocktail. Adding lime and coconut to the whisky mint mix, it’s a simple yet exotic tasting serve that’ll take you right to balmy beach days.

Serve on sweltering days in the garden or when you’re dreaming of holidays gone by. It’s easy to make and great for a gathering. Just muddle, shake and pour.

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Pack a punch with this fruity twist on the classic julep cocktail. Adding a burst of berry sweetness to the traditional mint and whisky combination, it’s made for backyard barbeques and summer nights.

Muddle fresh berries into your mint leaves mix. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries – choose your favourite and get smashing. The freshness adds a sweet, tart taste and vibrant colour to the warming taste of scotch whisky.

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Keep things fruity but this time with a peachy spin. This super sweet variation uses fresh peaches to capture the essence of summer with every sip. 

Muddle peach slices, use peach puree or pour in peach juice to get the sweet, delicious flavour into your drink. Best served with crushed ice on a warm afternoon where there’s nothing to do but relax.

From cooling mint to sweet citrus fruit, we’ve got plenty of other whisky recipes to make with The Glenlivet. Discover more herby cocktails that use the best of your garden and save our light summer cocktails to shake up with friends at home.