It may come to no surprise that I love derby day. Though I’m not actually a huge fan of horse racing, when horses are in the public spotlight for one day of the year I’m all ears, or rather all eyes, watching the race. And after American Pharoah’s triple crown win last year, I’m excited to see if another horse can even come close to it!

The mint julep cocktail, which is a simple drink composed of Kentucky bourbon, simple syrup, and mint is pretty much synonymous with big fancy hats on derby day. My take on the classic derby cocktail is making it into a delicious boozy popsicle. It’s perfect for derby day or anytime you want an adult treat on a warm day.

Watch the video below to see how to make these boozy pops!

Mint Julep Popsicles

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup packed mint leaves
1/3 cup bourbon

Supplies

Popsicles mold
Wood popsicles sticks
Mesh strainer
Medium saucepan

Directions

1. Pour the sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat on medium. Stir and cook until the sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from the heat and add the mint. Allow it to steep for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture over a mesh strainer. Pour in the bourbon and stir.
3. Pour the mixture into a popsicle mold. Freeze for about 1 hour, or until they are just starting to harden. Remove from the freezer and insert the wooden sticks two-thirds of the way into each popsicle. Place them back in the freezer overnight to harden. Just before serving, run the bottom part of the popsicle mold under cold water for 30 seconds to help loosen the pops. Then enjoy immediately, cheers!

If you’re hosting a Derby party, or are just a horse lover like I am, then you’ll want to make these paint dipped gold horseshoes. They make pretty Derby day table decor and can be displayed on a desk or even hung on a wall after the party.

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