Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes Gin Julep Close Credit: Sidney Bensimon Prep Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Yield: 1 drink Most mint juleps nowadays are made with bourbon, but gin was just as popular a base in the 19th century. Our throwback recipe will be just as crowd-pleasing at your Kentucky Derby party. Directions In the bottom of a julep cup, muddle mint with sugar until mint starts to break down. Add gin; stir until sugar dissolves. Add ice to fill cup three-quarters of the way; top with seltzer. Stir, top with more ice, and garnish with mint sprig. Serve immediately. Cook's Notes Using a barrel-aged gin helps provide the roundness you'd normally get from bourbon. We like Copper & Kings L'Inspecteur, from Kentucky. To make large batches of crushed ice, pulse ice cubes in a food processor until pea-size or smaller.