Iced Mint Julep Tea

Summer afternoons on the porch have always called for something cold and refreshing. Growing up, that meant sweet tea. These days, I like to give my sweet tea a little grown-up twist when friends come over.

That’s where this mint julep iced tea comes in. It takes everything you love about a classic mint julep and mixes it with good sweet tea. The result is a drink that’s perfect for lazy weekend afternoons or when you want something special without the fuss. Five minutes and you’re done.

Love bourbon? You’ll love this. More into sweet tea? You’ll still love this. Honestly, it’s become my go-to drink when I want to feel fancy without breaking a sweat.

What Kind of Bourbon Should I Use?

For a mint julep iced tea, you don’t need to break the bank on bourbon – a mid-range bottle will work just fine. Kentucky bourbon is the traditional choice and brings that classic sweet, oaky flavor that pairs perfectly with mint and tea. If you’re new to bourbon, look for something smooth and approachable like Maker’s Mark or Buffalo Trace, which won’t overpower the other flavors. Save your top-shelf bottles for sipping neat, since the sweet tea and mint will mellow out the bourbon’s complexity anyway.

Options for Substitutions

This refreshing drink is easy to customize based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Bourbon: While bourbon is the classic choice for a mint julep, you can use rye whiskey or Tennessee whiskey for a slightly different flavor profile. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the bourbon entirely and add a splash of vanilla extract or almond extract to give it some depth.
• Sweet tea: If you don’t have sweet tea ready, you can use unsweetened tea and add simple syrup or honey to taste. Black tea works best, but green tea is fine if that’s what you have on hand.
• Fresh mint leaves: Fresh mint is really important for this drink – it’s what makes it a mint julep. If you absolutely must substitute, try a few drops of peppermint extract, but use it sparingly as it’s much stronger than fresh mint.
• Crushed ice: Regular ice cubes work if you don’t have crushed ice. Just pulse them in a blender or put them in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin or mallet.
• Lemon garnish: The lemon is optional and mainly for looks, so feel free to skip it or use lime instead.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when muddling mint is going too hard and tearing the leaves, which releases bitter compounds instead of the fresh, aromatic oils you want – gently press and twist the mint against the bottom of the glass just 3-4 times until you smell the fragrance.

Another common error is adding all the ice at once, which dilutes your drink too quickly and waters down the bourbon and tea balance, so stick to the two-step ice addition for the best flavor.

When it comes to the sweet tea, using one that’s too sweet can make your drink cloying, so taste your tea first and consider cutting it with a bit of unsweetened tea if needed.

Finally, don’t skip “slapping” the mint garnish between your palms before adding it – this step releases the oils and makes your drink smell amazing with every sip.

What to Serve With Mint Julep Iced Tea?

This refreshing bourbon-spiked tea is perfect for sipping on a hot afternoon, and it pairs really well with Southern-inspired snacks and appetizers. I love serving it alongside pimento cheese with crackers, deviled eggs, or a charcuterie board with sharp cheddar and salami. If you’re hosting a backyard gathering, this drink goes great with grilled foods like barbecue chicken, pulled pork sliders, or even just some simple chips and dip. The minty, sweet flavors also complement fruit-based desserts like peach cobbler or lemon bars if you want to keep the Southern theme going.

Storage Instructions

Prep Ahead: You can make the sweet tea component up to a week in advance and keep it in a pitcher in the fridge. This makes it super easy to mix up individual drinks whenever you want one. Just muddle the mint and add bourbon when you’re ready to serve.

Store: If you’ve already mixed your drink but can’t finish it, you can keep it in the fridge for a few hours. Just know that the mint flavor will get stronger the longer it sits, and the ice will melt and water it down a bit. It’s really best enjoyed fresh though!

Batch It: Planning a party? Mix the bourbon, sweet tea, and muddled mint together in a pitcher without ice and keep it chilled for up to 4 hours. Add the crushed ice and garnishes to individual glasses when you’re ready to serve so everyone gets a perfectly cold drink.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 120-160
• Protein: 0-1 g
• Fat: 0-1 g
• Carbohydrates: 10-18 g

Ingredients

For the drink:

• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 2 oz bourbon (Maker’s Mark recommended)
• 4.5 oz sweet tea (Milo’s Sweet Tea recommended)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Crushed ice

For the garnish:

• 1 large mint sprig
• 1 lemon wheel

Step 1: Prepare the Glass and Mint

• Crushed ice
• 1 large mint sprig

Fill a cocktail glass or highball glass with crushed ice, packing it firmly to chill the glass while you prepare the drink.

Take your large mint sprig and give it a sharp slap between your hands to release the aromatic oils—this is what gives the drink its signature minty fragrance and flavor.

Set the slapped mint aside for garnish.

Step 2: Muddle Mint and Build the Base

• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 2 oz bourbon
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Pour out about half the ice from your chilled glass.

Add the 12 fresh mint leaves to the glass and gently muddle them by pressing and twisting with a muddler or the back of a spoon—don’t crush them aggressively or they’ll become bitter.

I like to muddle just enough to bruise the leaves and release their oils, not pulverize them.

Add the bourbon and Angostura bitters, stirring gently to combine the flavors.

Step 3: Add Tea and Chill

• 4.5 oz sweet tea

Pour the sweet tea into the glass, stirring well to combine it with the bourbon and bitters mixture from Step 2.

The tea brings sweetness and a slight tea complexity that complements the bourbon perfectly.

Continue stirring for about 15-20 seconds to chill the drink and fully integrate all the flavors.

Step 4: Top and Garnish

• Crushed ice
• slapped mint sprig from Step 1
• 1 lemon wheel

Top the drink with additional crushed ice, filling the glass completely.

Place the slapped mint sprig from Step 1 on top as both garnish and aroma enhancer—it will release mint fragrance with every sip.

Add the lemon wheel by resting it on the rim or dropping it into the drink for both visual appeal and a subtle citrus element.

Step 5: Serve

Place a straw in the glass and serve immediately.

I always make sure the straw goes through the mint sprig so drinkers get that minty aroma with each sip—it really enhances the whole experience.