Mint Julep
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Whiskey
- Strength
- 27.9%
- Std. drinks
- 1.52
- Calories
- 159
- Sugar
- 2.5 g
- 2 ozBourbon60 ml
- 4 sprigsMint
- 1 tspPowdered sugar
- 2 tspWater
The ratio · 6 : ½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Old Fashioned.
Head to head
Mint Julep and Old Fashioned side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference
Whiskey, sugar and a little water in both. The Old Fashioned seasons them with Angostura bitters and is built over ice in a rocks glass; the Mint Julep muddles in mint and is packed with crushed ice, which dilutes it more and makes it colder and more refreshing.
By the numbers
The Mint Julep uses mint where the Old Fashioned uses Angostura bitters; both have bourbon, sugar and water. In parts, a Mint Julep is 6 whiskey, ½ sugar and 1 water; an Old Fashioned is 7 whiskey and 1 sugar. By volume, the Mint Julep is 81% spirit, 14% mixer and juice and 5% syrup and sugar; the Old Fashioned is 84% spirit, 12% syrup and sugar and 4% mixer and juice. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Old Fashioned is the stronger drink in the glass (32.9% ABV against 27.9%), but the Mint Julep is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.52 standard drinks against 1.20). The Mint Julep has more calories (about 159 against 133), but the Old Fashioned has more sugar (4.0 g against 2.5 g). Both are built; the Mint Julep is served in a julep cup, the Old Fashioned in a rocks glass.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Whiskey
The ratio · 6 : ½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Old Fashioned.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Whiskey
The ratio · 7 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Mint Julep.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Mint Julep vs.
Old Fashioned vs.