This Virgin Mint Julep Mocktail will be your new favorite way to celebrate Derby Season! Whether you're at an event with kids or just looking to skip the alcohol, it's the perfect blend of sharp & sweet.
If you love refreshing mocktail recipes, also try my lavender blueberry mocktail and mango mule mocktail.
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✔️ Why This Recipe is Great
Low Histamine Drink: I always get requests from readers for non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy in the summer, and this is one of my next drinks to add to the collection. If you'd like to spike it a bit, however, just swap the ginger beer for 2oz. of bourbon.
Virgin Mint Julep: this is my answer to the whiskey-based beverage my aunt loves to enjoy around this time of year— and she just-so-happens to have been visiting lately. As my low histamine alcohol guide covers, whiskey is a big no-no on a low histamine diet, so I decided to swap it here for my favorite ginger beer and a touch of fresh lime juice.
Easy to Make & Batch: with just 4 (or 5) ingredients and no blender needed, this mint julep mocktail couldn't get much simpler. It's also very easy to make 8-10 times over for large groups, and even have kids make it themselves.
🌿 Ingredients
Mint Leaves: you'll need roughly 1 sprig of fresh mint for this virgin mint julep, traditionally made with spearmint leaves (hierba buena).
Crystallized Sweetener: this adds balance to the beverage, though a mint simple syrup would also do the trick when mint is out of season.
Fresh Lime Juice: though optional, I find the lime juice to add to the sting of the overall drink, like the sharpness contributed by whiskey.
Vanilla: whether you go for a dash of vanilla extract or a pinch of vanilla powder, this helps add some underlying complexity to the drink, similar to that of a barrel-aged whiskey.
Fizzy Ginger Drink: ginger beer is just an example of what beverages you could add to this virgin mint julep, though in my opinion it does the best job of capturing the bite of whiskey.
See recipe card for exact ingredients and quantities.
🍸 How to Make a Mint Julep Mocktail (Step-by-Step)
Step 1) Muddle the fresh mint with the sweetener (images 1 & 2).
Step 2) Then add the lime juice and stir everything together, letting it sit for a half minute to dissolve the sugar a bit (image 3).
Step 3) Fill the glass with cubed ice to the top or halfway with crushed ice (image 4), then pour on your ginger drink until the glass is filled. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, and enjoy (images 5 & 6)!
🥥 Variations
- Lime-Free Julep: Skip the lime juice and add a tiny splash of water or mint simple syrup for brightness without citrus.
- Lower-Sugar Version: Use monk fruit or allulose instead of crystallized sweetener for a lighter, low sugar mocktail.
- Extra Minty: Add a few additional mint leaves or lightly muddle them for a stronger herbal flavor.
- Creamy Mint Mocktail: Add 1–2 tablespoons coconut milk for a soft, creamy twist (if tolerated).
- Vanilla-Mint Julep: Increase the vanilla slightly for a gentle dessert-style flavor.
- Ginger-Free Option: Swap the fizzy ginger drink for plain sparkling water for a milder, kid-friendly version.
🧊 Freezing and Storage
If you make two servings of this mocktail but decide you only want one, you can freeze the extra serving, though it will lose a bit of the flavor intensity and any fizziness from the carbonated element.
👨🏻🍳 Expert Notes & Tips
Disneyland Mint Julep: just swap the ginger beer for your favorite lemonade to make this into a mint julep Disneyland copycat.
Adjusting the Sweetness: adding more simple syrup or coconut sugar will increase the sweetness of the drink, though be careful not to add too much mint or it will throw the ginger beer's sharpness out of balance.
Brand of Ginger Beer: I quite enjoy the Poppi brand of prebiotic drinks, but the Fever Tree brand is a classic (though high in sugar), and a sparkling water with ginger simple syrup could also be a decent sub.
❓ What to Serve With Mint Julep Mocktail
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes—when made fresh with simple ingredients and consumed right away, this mocktail fits well into a low histamine diet.
Absolutely. The lime is optional and can be omitted entirely for a citrus-free version—just add a splash of water or extra mint simple syrup if you’d like more brightness.
Crystallized monk fruit, allulose, or homemade mint simple syrup work well and keep this mocktail low sugar and gentle on sensitive systems.
Yes—sparkling water is a great substitute if you prefer a milder flavor or need a ginger-free option.
Yes! It’s alcohol-free, lightly sweetened, and refreshing, making it suitable for kids and adults alike.
Have you tried this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Virgin Mint Julep (Mocktail)
Ingredients
- 10-12 mint leaves 1 sprig
- 1 teaspoon crystallized sweetener alt. 2 teaspoons mint simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice optional
- pinch of vanilla powder or dash of vanilla extract
- 4 oz. fizzy ginger drink like ginger beer
Instructions
- Muddle the fresh mint with the sweetener.
- Then add the lime juice and stir everything together, letting it sit for a half minute to dissolve the sugar a bit.
- Fill the glass with cubed ice to the top or halfway with crushed ice, then pour on your ginger drink until the glass is filled. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, and enjoy!
Notes
Adjusting the Sweetness: adding more simple syrup or coconut sugar will increase the sweetness of the drink, though be careful not to add too much mint or it will throw the ginger beer's sharpness out of balance. Brand of Ginger Beer: I quite enjoy the Poppi brand of prebiotic drinks, but the Fever Tree brand is a classic (though high in sugar), and a sparkling water with ginger simple syrup could also be a decent sub.
Kim says
I love the idea of replacing the bourbon with ginger beer -- similar sharpness. Thanks!
Max says
Thanks, Kim! I'm so glad you like it. 🙂