Prescription Julep

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (103 ratings)

Serve in a Julep tin

Ingredients:
7 fresh Mint leaves
1 12 oz Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac
12 oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
14 oz Demerara/Muscovado/brown sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
2 dash Orange Bitters by Angostura
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Julep tin.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist, mint sprigs and icing sugar.
  3. Lightly MUDDLE mint (just to bruise) in base of shaker.
  4. Add other ingredients and SHAKE with ice.
  5. STRAIN into julep cup filled with crushed ice.
  6. CHURN with barspoon to redistribute ice.
  7. TOP with more crushed ice to fill cup if necessary.
  8. EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and discard.
  9. Garnish with mint sprigs bouquet dusted with icing sugar.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

Rye whiskey and cognac combine harmoniously in this delicious julep.

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Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Amarette Speights’ Avatar Amarette Speights
13th July at 00:34
I’m going to say something heretical. But mint is very expensive here. (I just need to plant some) but when I can’t get it, mint bitters or syrup can give similar flavor. My southern card is going to get taken away.
Chris Brislawn’s Avatar Chris Brislawn
2nd September 2024 at 04:53
My favorite julep variation, though I prefer equal proportions of cognac & rye. What does the name mean? I can understand something like "Cognac Julep," and this is a mash-up of the cognac and whiskey versions, but "Prescription Julep"? Is this particular variant some 19th Century medical cure-all, as prescribed for whatever ails you by Doctor Jerry Thomas?
David M.’s Avatar David M.
2nd July 2023 at 00:15
Tasty and pretty. Though I’m with everyone else and would cut back on the sugar syrup (and that’s without even the powdered sugar on top).
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
5th July 2023 at 17:18
Agreed, David. Also in keeping with the comments below, I've cut the sugar syrup back to 7.5ml (1/4oz) and also switched from white to brown sugar.
6th December 2022 at 06:37
I like this more than the regular Mint Julep, I used 5 ml of Rich Demerara Syrup.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
30th June 2022 at 00:23
I like this better than the regular mint julep. It has a burst of more flavours with the rye and cognac. Perfect on a warm afternoon before supper. We used half the amount of sugar syrup and it was perfect for us. We have always found Juleps sweet, so we knew to adjust the sugar.
Alice-Amanda Hinton’s Avatar Alice-Amanda Hinton
19th September 2021 at 22:47
I prefer with a touch less sugar syrup - about 7.5ml. Wonder about trying a hint of mint syrup instead?
Christopher Day’s Avatar Christopher Day
3rd June 2022 at 15:53
I agree, I was surprised by how sweet this came out. I don't have any mint syrup but might keep some cane syrup and try adding a little Branca Menta for some minty herbal heresy!