The Mint Condition: 18 Fresh Herb Cocktails That Deliver
Mojitos, Juleps, Smashes, and Everything Mint
Why These 20 Mint Cocktails?
Mint is the most universal cocktail herb. It appears in almost every cocktail tradition — the Mojito from Cuba, the Julep from Kentucky, the Southside from Chicago, the Stinger from wherever you happen to be at 2 AM. Its cool, bright flavor pairs with every spirit imaginable, and the aroma alone makes a drink feel more alive. Mint isn't just an ingredient; it's a signal that says "this drink is fresh."
This guide brings together 20 cocktails where mint is the essential herb. You'll find juleps and mojitos (of course), but also less expected builds: the London Frost pairs mint with gin and elderflower, the Presidente Menocal Special is a rum-and-mint classic from pre-Revolution Havana, and the Brandy Cocktail uses mint as an aromatic counterpoint to aged spirit. Each recipe treats mint as a serious ingredient, not a decorative sprig.
Fresh mint only, always. Dried mint belongs in tea, not cocktails.
Hi Ladies!
Vodka and fresh mint shaken with lime for a crisp, cooling daiquiri-style drink.
Fresh mint and lime brighten vodka in this clean, simple sour that's a perfect gateway into the world of mint cocktails.
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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0.75 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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8.00 fresh Mint leaves
- Add ice to shaker
- Pour all ingredients into shaker
- Shake vigorously
- Fine strain into chilled coupe glass
- Garnish with mint sprig
Presidente Menocal Special
White rum barely kissed with lime, letting muddled mint take center stage.
Minimal lime lets the mint shine alongside white rum in this Cuban classic that strips the mojito down to its purest form.
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0.17 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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7.00 fresh Mint leaves
- Chill martini glass
- Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
- Fill shaker with ice
- Shake vigorously
- Fine strain into chilled martini glass
- Garnish with mint sprig and Luxardo Maraschino cherry
Getting the Most From Fresh Mint
Gentle handling is the key. For muddled drinks (Mojitos, Juleps), press the mint leaves against the bottom of the glass with the flat of your muddler — three or four firm presses are enough. You're releasing the aromatic oils from the surface of the leaf, not pulverizing the plant. Over-muddling releases bitter chlorophyll from inside the leaf's cell walls, turning a fresh, bright flavor into something harsh and green.
For garnish, slap the mint sprig between your palms once before placing it on the drink. That single clap releases the essential oils onto your hands and into the air above the glass, so the aroma hits you with every sip. Always use the freshest leaves you can find — limp, browning mint smells (and tastes) like nothing.
The London Frost
Gin and dry vermouth stirred cold with just a whisper of sweetness.
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
Southside
Gin, mint, and lime shaken into a Prohibition-age classic that still pops.
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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1.00 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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7.00 fresh Mint leaves
Brandy Cocktail
Cognac, Grand Marnier, and mint leaves stirred into a warming after-dinner drink.
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5.00 fresh Mint leaves
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Also try: Peychaud's Bitters
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
Jamaican Gold Rush
Aged Jamaican rum and Drambuie get a fresh mint lift in this sour.
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0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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7.00 fresh Mint leaves
Frosty Mint Martini
Three ounces of vodka with mint and lime in a bracing, frosty pour.
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0.17 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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7.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
Maison Charles Daiquiri
White rum and muddled mint in a daiquiri that channels Havana's golden age.
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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8.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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0.50 fl oz Chilled water (reduce if wet ice)
Peach & Suze Swizzle
Muddled grapes, Suze, peach liqueur, and mint in a bittersweet swizzle.
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8.00 fresh Mint leaves
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Also try: Empirical Stonefruit
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6.00 fresh Seedless white grapes
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Also try: Gentiane Liqueur des Peres Chatreux
Rum Royale Julep
White rum julep topped with champagne for a sparkling, celebratory finish.
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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12.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.75 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
The Orange Grove Martini
Gin, mint leaves, and orange bitters walk through an imaginary citrus grove.
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5.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.17 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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Also try: Regans' Orange Bitters
Chartreuse Mint Fizz
Green Chartreuse and fresh mint double down on herbal intensity with soda.
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0.75 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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Top up with Club soda
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7.00 fresh Mint leaves
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1.00 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
Mint Collins
A Tom Collins full of a dozen mint leaves for maximum herbal refreshment.
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1.00 fl oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
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2.50 fl oz Club soda
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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12.00 fresh Mint leaves
Passion Smash
Fresh passion fruit and mint smashed with aged rum for tropical intensity.
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1.00 fresh Passion fruit (fresh fruit)
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8.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
Raspberry Rum Smash
Chambord and a dozen mint leaves turn white rum into a berry-mint smash.
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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12.00 fresh Mint leaves
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1.00 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
Major Bailey
White rum, triple sec, and pineapple in a fruity, citrus-heavy tropical pour.
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1.00 fl oz Fresh pressed pineapple juice
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1.00 fl oz Fresh pressed pineapple juice
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0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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0.25 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Mint Julep Cocktail
The original bourbon-and-mint classic, built on crushed ice since the 1800s.
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0.75 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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12.00 fresh Mint leaves
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Also try: Peychaud's Bitters
Missionary's Downfall
A blended tiki classic overflowing with mint, peach, rum, and pineapple.
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12.00 fresh Mint leaves
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0.50 fl oz Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne)
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2.00 fl oz Fresh pressed pineapple juice
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1.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
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Also try: Empirical Stonefruit
Shop the Spirits in This Guide
Spirit Categories: Rum · Liqueurs · Gin · Bitters · Vodka · Vermouth
Shop by Style: Light Rum · Fruit Liqueurs · London Dry Gin · Unflavored Vodka · Herbal & Spiced Bitters · Dark Rum · Herbal & Spice Liqueurs · Dry Vermouth
Get Specific: Light Rum · Classic London Dry Gin · Grain Vodka · Orange Liqueur · Aromatic Bitters · Brown Rum · Other Herbal & Spice Liqueur · Peach Liqueur · Dry Vermouth · VS Cognac
Spirits Ready, Mint Waiting
Every spirit and liqueur in this guide is available for delivery. Pick up a fat bunch of fresh mint and you're good to go.
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