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    Home » Recipes » Cocktail Recipes

    Blueberry Citrus Julep is a Twist on the Classic Bourbon Derby Cocktail

    Published: Jun 22, 2021 · Updated: Jan 4, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

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    Blueberry Citrus Julep

    This post contains affiliate links (paid links).

    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. 

    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. 

    Blueberry Citrus Julep

    What You Need

    • Fresh mint
    • A lemon
    • An orange
    • Blueberry brown sugar syrup (recipe below)
    • Bourbon
    • Orange bitters 
    • Sparkling water or club soda

    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 brown sugar 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!

    How to Make Blueberry Brown Sugar Syrup

    • 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup water 

    Place everything in a small pot over medium heat. 

    Blueberries, brown sugar and water in a pot

    Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes until the mixture foams up and the blueberries start to burst open.

    Blueberry syrup cooking on the stove

    Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes. 

    Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Pour blueberry mixture through the sieve, gently stirring to ensure all liquid makes it into the bowl.

    Finished blueberry brown sugar syrup

    Remove sieve and discard berry remnants. 

    Place syrup in the refrigerator until ready to use. 

    Make sure your syrup is completely chilled before using. 

    Syrup will last for 2-3 weeks.

    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. 

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    Blueberry Citrus Julep

    Blueberry Citrus Julep
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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. 

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 0 min
    • Total Time: 5 min
    • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
    • Category: Cocktails
    • Method: Stir
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 8 mint leaves
    • 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
    • 0.25 oz fresh orange juice
    • 1 oz blueberry brown sugar syrup
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 2 dashes orange bitters
    • 1 oz sparkling water/club soda

    Instructions

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

    Muddle to break up the mint leaves. 

    Add blueberry brown sugar 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!

    Equipment

    Image of Julep Glasses

    Julep Glasses

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    Image of Rocks Glasses

    Rocks Glasses

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    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cocktail
    • Calories: 202
    • Sugar: 14.8 g
    • Sodium: 4.4 mg
    • Fat: 0 g
    • Carbohydrates: 15.4 g
    • Fiber: 0.1 g
    • Protein: 0.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Keywords: blueberry, mint julep, derby cocktail, bourbon drinks, bourbon cocktails, citrus cocktails, homemade happy hour

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave it a five star review! And don't forget to share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram. I can’t wait to see what you made!

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    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    Blueberry Citrus Julep
    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

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