Blueberry Citrus Julep is a Twist on the Classic Derby Cocktail

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This Blueberry Citrus Julep is the perfect sip when you’re wanting something light and fruity, but still a little serious. No umbrellas or pineapple wedges here. Just a slightly sophisticated drink.

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Ingredients
How to Make a Blueberry Citrus Julep
Tips for Blueberry Citrus Juleps
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Blueberry Citrus Julep

I love a good bourbon cocktail, but traditional mint juleps have never made it into my regular drink rotation. Mostly because I think they could be better! So let’s make them better - starting with blueberry brown sugar syrup instead of simple syrup. And some fresh citrus and bitters to offset the sweetness.

Ingredients

Fresh mint - A classic julep ingredient!
Fresh lemon and orange - Fresh citrus always gives the best flavor. Squeeze fresh fruit for this drink. You'll need less than half of a lemon and orange.
Blueberry Simple Syrup - Easily made at home with 3 ingredient, blueberry syrup is bringing both the sweet and blueberry elements to this recipe.
Bourbon - Choose your favorite bourbon for this recipe.
Orange bitters - Adds a depth of flavor to your julep cocktail. Don't have any? Simply leave them out.
Sparkling water or club soda - Both plain sparkling water and club soda work great, so choose your favorite.

How to Make a Blueberry Citrus Julep

Place mint leaves, lemon juice and orange juice in a rocks glass or julep glass.

Muddle to break up the mint leaves.

Add blueberry simple syrup, bourbon, and bitters to the glass.

Add ice to fill the glass.

Top with sparkling water.

Stir gently to combine and garnish with a large sprig of mint and/or slices of orange.

Enjoy!

Tips for Blueberry Citrus Juleps

What can I use instead of brown sugar in the syrup?

You can swap white sugar for brown sugar in the blueberry syrup. If you prefer an all natural sweetener, honey works well in this drink too.

Do I have to use fresh juice?

Yes! With so few ingredients in this cocktail, fresh squeezed is the best for both the lemon and orange juice. You likely need a quarter of a lemon and a quarter of an orange to get the amount of juice you need for one drink.

What kind of bourbon should I use?

Use your favorite! Traditional bourbon or rye bourbon both are delicious in this cocktail. I prefer Bulleit or Buffalo Trace in my bourbon drinks, both of which are good, mid-priced spirits.

What glassware should I use?

Traditional julep cups work great for this drink. I photographed these blueberry citrus juleps in rocks glasses so you could see the cocktail’s color, and a rocks glass is a great substitution if you don’t have silver julep cups.